Display device having at least one pressure sensor

ABSTRACT

A display device including a first pressure sensor disposed under a display panel that includes an upper surface, a first upper curved portion extended from a first edge of the upper surface, and a first side surface extended from the first upper curved portion. The first pressure sensor is disposed in the first upper curved portion.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from and the benefit of Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2018-0096108 filed on Aug. 17, 2018, which is herebyincorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND Field

Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate generally to a displaydevice.

Discussion of the Background

Electronic devices that represent images to a user, such as a smartphone, a tablet PC, a digital camera, a laptop computer, a navigationdevice, and a smart TV, include a display device for displaying images.Such a display device includes a display panel for generating anddisplaying an image and various input means.

Recently, a touch panel that recognizes a touch input has been widelyemployed for display devices of smart phones and tablet PCs. By virtueof its convenience, a touch panel is increasingly replacing existingphysical input means, such as a keypad. Moreover, research is currentlybeing conducted to achieve various input means by disposing a pressuresensor on a display device.

The above information disclosed in this Background section is only forunderstanding of the background of the inventive concepts, and,therefore, it may contain information that does not constitute priorart.

SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a display devicein which images are displayed on the side surfaces and the lower surfacethereof and in which pressure sensors are disposed on the side surfacesor the lower surface thereof.

Additional features of the inventive concepts will be set forth in thedescription which follows, and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the inventive concepts.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a displaydevice including a display panel having an upper surface, a first uppercurved portion extended from a first edge of the upper surface, and afirst side surface extended from the first upper curved portion; and afirst pressure sensor disposed under the display panel. The firstpressure sensor is disposed in the first upper curved portion.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a displaydevice including a display panel including an upper surface, a firstupper curved portion extended from a first edge of the upper surface,and a first side surface extended from the first upper curved portion;and a first pressure sensor disposed under the display panel. The firstpressure sensor is disposed on the first side surface.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and areintended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of theinvention, and together with the description serve to explain theinventive concepts.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a display device according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of the bottom of a display panelaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an example of a middle frame according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of a middle frame and a main circuit boardaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view showing pressure sensors disposed in the displaypanel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a first pressure sensor and bumpsaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a second pressure sensor and bumpsaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a third pressure sensor and bumpsaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a fourth pressure sensor and bumpsaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of area A shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III′ of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a view showing an example of a display device in whichpressure sensors are used as physical buttons according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14A, FIG. 14B, and FIG. 14C are cross-sectional views showingexamples of display devices, taken along line I-I′ of FIG. 1.

FIG. 15A, FIG. 15B, and FIG. 15C are cross-sectional views showingexamples of display devices, taken along line II-II′ of FIG. 1.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of an example of a first pressuresensor, a bump and a waterproof member.

FIG. 17 is a bottom view showing pressure sensors disposed in thedisplay panel according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 18 is a bottom view showing pressure sensors disposed in thedisplay panel according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view showing a display device according toanother exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along lineI-I′ of FIG. 1.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view showing a display device according toanother exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along lineII-II′ of FIG. 1.

FIG. 21 is a bottom view showing pressure sensors disposed in thedisplay panel according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 22 is a plan view showing a first pressure sensor, first bumps andsecond bumps according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 23 is a plan view showing a second pressure sensor, first bumps,and second bumps according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 24 is a plan view showing a third pressure sensor, first bumps BP1,and second bumps BP2 according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 25 is a plan view showing a fourth pressure sensor, first bumpsBP1, and second bumps BP2 according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 26 is a bottom view of the pressure sensitive cells on the lowersurface of the display device according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 27 is a bottom view showing pressure sensors disposed in thedisplay panel according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 28 is a bottom view showing pressure sensors disposed in thedisplay panel according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 29 is a bottom view showing pressure sensors disposed in thedisplay panel according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 30 and FIG. 31 are perspective views schematically showing thepositions of the pressure sensitive cells and icon navigations for thepressure sensitive cells according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of various exemplary embodiments of the invention. As usedherein “embodiments” are non-limiting examples of devices or methodsemploying one or more of the inventive concepts disclosed herein. It isapparent, however, that various exemplary embodiments may be practicedwithout these specific details or with one or more equivalentarrangements. In other instances, well-known structures and devices areshown in block diagram form in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuringvarious exemplary embodiments. Further, various exemplary embodimentsmay be different, but do not have to be exclusive. For example, specificshapes, configurations, and characteristics of an exemplary embodimentmay be used or implemented in another exemplary embodiment withoutdeparting from the inventive concepts.

Unless otherwise specified, the illustrated exemplary embodiments are tobe understood as providing exemplary features of varying detail of someways in which the inventive concepts may be implemented in practice.Therefore, unless otherwise specified, the features, components,modules, layers, films, panels, regions, and/or aspects, etc.(hereinafter individually or collectively referred to as “elements”), ofthe various embodiments may be otherwise combined, separated,interchanged, and/or rearranged without departing from the inventiveconcepts.

The use of cross-hatching and/or shading in the accompanying drawings isgenerally provided to clarify boundaries between adjacent elements. Assuch, neither the presence nor the absence of cross-hatching or shadingconveys or indicates any preference or requirement for particularmaterials, material properties, dimensions, proportions, commonalitiesbetween illustrated elements, and/or any other characteristic,attribute, property, etc., of the elements, unless specified. Further,in the accompanying drawings, the size and relative sizes of elementsmay be exaggerated for clarity and/or descriptive purposes. When anexemplary embodiment may be implemented differently, a specific processorder may be performed differently from the described order. Forexample, two consecutively described processes may be performedsubstantially at the same time or performed in an order opposite to thedescribed order. Also, like reference numerals denote like elements.

When an element, such as a layer, is referred to as being “on,”“connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may bedirectly on, connected to, or coupled to the other element or layer orintervening elements or layers may be present. When, however, an elementor layer is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to,”or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there are nointervening elements or layers present. To this end, the term“connected” may refer to physical, electrical, and/or fluid connection,with or without intervening elements. Further, the D1-axis, the D2-axis,and the D3-axis are not limited to three axes of a rectangularcoordinate system, such as the x, y, and z-axes, and may be interpretedin a broader sense. For example, the D1-axis, the D2-axis, and theD3-axis may be perpendicular to one another, or may represent differentdirections that are not perpendicular to one another. For the purposesof this disclosure, “at least one of X, Y, and Z” and “at least oneselected from the group consisting of X, Y, and Z” may be construed as Xonly, Y only, Z only, or any combination of two or more of X, Y, and Z,such as, for instance, XYZ, XYY, YZ, and ZZ. As used herein, the term“and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of theassociated listed items.

Although the terms “first,” “second,” etc. may be used herein todescribe various types of elements, these elements should not be limitedby these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one element fromanother element. Thus, a first element discussed below could be termed asecond element without departing from the teachings of the disclosure.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “under,” “lower,”“above,” “upper,” “over,” “higher,” “side” (e.g., as in “sidewall”), andthe like, may be used herein for descriptive purposes, and, thereby, todescribe one elements relationship to another element(s) as illustratedin the drawings. Spatially relative terms are intended to encompassdifferent orientations of an apparatus in use, operation, and/ormanufacture in addition to the orientation depicted in the drawings. Forexample, if the apparatus in the drawings is turned over, elementsdescribed as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would thenbe oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplaryterm “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below.Furthermore, the apparatus may be otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90degrees or at other orientations), and, as such, the spatially relativedescriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, thesingular forms, “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the pluralforms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Moreover,the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including,”when used in this specification, specify the presence of statedfeatures, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/orgroups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one ormore other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components,and/or groups thereof. It is also noted that, as used herein, the terms“substantially,” “about,” and other similar terms, are used as terms ofapproximation and not as terms of degree, and, as such, are utilized toaccount for inherent deviations in measured, calculated, and/or providedvalues that would be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art.

Various exemplary embodiments are described herein with reference tosectional and/or exploded illustrations that are schematic illustrationsof idealized exemplary embodiments and/or intermediate structures. Assuch, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, forexample, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to beexpected. Thus, exemplary embodiments disclosed herein should notnecessarily be construed as limited to the particular illustrated shapesof regions, but are to include deviations in shapes that result from,for instance, manufacturing. In this manner, regions illustrated in thedrawings may be schematic in nature and the shapes of these regions maynot reflect actual shapes of regions of a device and, as such, are notnecessarily intended to be limiting.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure is a part. Terms,such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should beinterpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning inthe context of the relevant art and should not be interpreted in anidealized or overly formal sense, unless expressly so defined herein.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded,perspective view of a display device according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a display device 10 according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a cover window100, a touch sensing device 200, a touch circuit board 210, a touchdriver 220, a display panel 300, a display circuit board 310, a displaydriver 320, a pressure sensing unit 330, a first pressure sensor 511, asecond pressure sensor 512, a pressure sensing circuit board 550, amiddle frame 600, a main circuit board 700, and a bottom cover 900.

As used herein, the terms “above,” “top” and “upper surface” refer tothe side of the display panel 300 in the z-axis direction where thewindow 100 is disposed, whereas the terms “below,” “bottom” and “lowersurface” refer to the opposite side of the display panel 300 in thez-axis direction where the middle frame 600 is disposed. As used herein,the terms “left,” “right,” “upper” and “lower” indicate relativepositions when the display panel 300 is viewed from the top. Forexample, the “left side” refers to the opposite direction indicated bythe arrow of the x-axis, the “right side” refers to the directionindicated by the arrow of the x-axis, the “upper side” refers to thedirection indicated by the arrow of the y-axis, and the “lower side”refers to the opposite direction indicated by the arrow of the y-axis.

The display device 10 may have a substantially rectangular shape whenviewed from the top. The display device 10 may be a rectangle havingcorners at the right angle or rounded corners when viewed from the top.The display device 10 may have longer sides LS1 and LS2 and shortersides SS1 and SS2. In describing the rectangular display device 10 orthe display panel 300 or the like included therein, the longer sidelocated on the first side in the plan view is referred to as a firstlonger side LS1, and the longer side located on the left side isreferred to as a second longer side LS2, the shorter side located on theupper side is referred to as a first shorter side SS1, and the shorterside located on the lower side is referred to as a second shorter sideSS2. The length of each of the longer sides LS1 and LS2 of the displaydevice 10 may be, but is not limited to, being in a range of 1.5 timesto 2.5 times the length of the shorter sides SS1 and SS2.

The display device 10 may include a first region DR1, second regionsDR2, and third regions DR3 located on different planes, respectively.The first region DR1 is placed in a first plane. The second regions DR2are connected to the first region DR1 and are bent or curved therefrom.The second regions DR2 may be placed in a second plane intersecting withthe first plane at a predetermined angle or may have a curved surface.The second regions DR2 of the display device 10 are disposed in thevicinity of the first region DR1. The third regions DR3 are connected tothe second regions DR2 and are bent or curved therefrom, respectively.The third regions DR3 may be located on a third plane intersecting withthe second plane with a predetermined angle. The third plane may be, butis not limited to, a surface perpendicular to the first plane.

The second regions DR2 and the third regions DR3 may be disposed on thefirst and second shorter sides SS1 and SS2 and the first and secondlonger sides LS1 and LS2. For example, the second regions DR2 may becurved portions extended from the edges of the first region DR1 towardthe first and second shorter sides SS1 and SS2 and the first and secondlonger sides LS1 and LS2. The third regions DR3 may be extended from theends of the second regions DR2 to form the side surfaces of the firstand second shorter sides SS1 and SS2 and the first and second longersides LS1 and LS2 of the display device 10.

The first region DR1 of the display device 10 is used as the maindisplay surface. However, the second regions DR2 and the third regionsDR3, as well as the first region DR1, may also be used as the displayarea of the display device 10. In the following description, the firstregion DR1 of the display device 10 is a flat portion, which is theupper surface of the display device 10, while the second regions DR2 arecurved portions and the third regions DR3 are vertical portions whichare the side surfaces of the display device 10, for example. It is,however, to be understood that inventive concepts are not limitedthereto. In addition, the display device 10 may further include cornerportions CP of the second regions DR2 and the third regions DR3. Thecorner portions CP may be non-display areas of the second regions DR2and the third regions DR3 spaced apart from each other. It is, however,to be understood that is the inventive concepts are not limited thereto.The second regions DR2 may be connected to the third regions DR3. Insome exemplary embodiments, the display device 10 may include only afirst region DR1 that is a flat portion and the second region DR2 thatis a curved portion.

The cover window 100 may be disposed on the display panel 300 to coverthe upper surface and side surfaces of the display panel 300. Thus, thecover window 100 can protect the upper surface and side surfaces of thedisplay panel 300. The cover window 100 may be attached to the touchsensing device 200 through a first adhesive member 910, as shown inFIGS. 14A-14C. The first adhesive member 910 may be an optically clearedadhesive film (OCA) or an optically cleared resin (OCR).

The cover window 100 may be disposed such that it conforms to thedisplay panel 300. The cover window 100 may be disposed in the firstregion DR1, the second regions DR2, and the third regions DR3. The coverwindow 100 may include a plurality of holes for exposing a front camera,a front speaker, an infrared sensor, an iris recognition sensor, anultrasonic sensor, an illuminance sensor, etc. It is to be noted thatthe cover window 100 may include only some or none of the holes if someor all of the front camera, the front speaker, the infrared sensor, theiris recognition sensor, the ultrasonic sensor and the illuminancesensor are incorporated into the display panel 300.

The cover window 100 may be made of glass, sapphire, and/or plastic. Thecover window 100 may be rigid or flexible.

The touch sensing device 200 may be disposed between the cover window100 and the display panel 300. The touch sensing device 200 may bedisposed in the first region DR1, the second regions DR2, and the thirdregions DR3. Therefore, a user's touch can be detected not only in thefirst region DR1 but also in the second regions DR2 and the thirdregions DR3.

The touch sensing device 200 may be attached to the lower surface of thecover window 100 through the first adhesive member 910. A polarizingfilm may be added on the touch sensing device 200 to avoid thevisibility from decreasing due to reflection of external light. Then,the polarizing film may be attached to the lower surface of the coverwindow 100 through the first adhesive member 910.

The touch sensing device 200 is an element for sensing a user's touchposition. The touch sensing device 200 may be implemented as acapacitive touch sensing device of a self-capacitance type or a mutualcapacitance type. When the touch sensing device 200 is of aself-capacitance type, the touch sensing device 200 may include only thetouch driving electrodes. On the other hand, when the touch sensingdevice 200 is of a mutual capacitance type, the touch sensing device 200may include touch driving electrodes and touch sensing electrodes. Inthe following description, the mutual capacitive touch sensing devicewill be described as an example.

The touch sensing device 200 may be in the form of panel or film. Thetouch sensing device 200 may be attached to a thin-film encapsulationlayer of the display panel 300 through the second adhesive member 920 asshown in FIGS. 14A-14C. The second adhesive member 920 may be atransparent adhesive film (OCA) or a transparent adhesive resin (OCR).

Alternatively, the touch sensing device 200 may be formed integrallywith the display panel 300. In this case, the touch driving electrodesand the touch sensing electrodes of the touch sensing device 200 may beformed on the thin-film encapsulation layer of the display panel 300.

A touch circuit board 210 may be attached to one side of the touchsensing device 200. Specifically, one side of the touch circuit board210 may be attached to pads disposed on one side of the touch sensingdevice 200 using an anisotropic conductive film. In addition, a touchconnection portion may be disposed on the other side of the touchcircuit board 210. The touch connection portion may be connected to atouch connector of the display circuit board 310, as shown in FIG. 3.The touch circuit board may be a flexible printed circuit board.

The touch driver 220 may apply touch driving signals to the touchdriving electrodes of the touch sensing device 200, may sense sensingsignals from the touch sensing electrodes of the touch sensing device200, and may calculate a user's touch position by analyzing the sensingsignals. The touch driver 220 may be formed as an integrated circuit andmounted on the touch circuit board 210.

The display panel 300 may be disposed under the touch sensing device200. The display panel 300 may be disposed in the first region DR1, thesecond regions DR2, and the third regions DR3. Accordingly, the imageson the display panel 300 can be seen not only in the first region DR1but also in the second regions DR2 and the third regions DR3.

The display panel 300 may be a light-emitting display panel including alight-emitting element. For example, the display panel 300 may includean organic light-emitting display panel using organic light-emittingdiodes, a micro light-emitting diode display panel using micro LEDs, anda quantum-dot light-emitting display panel including quantum-dotlight-emitting diodes.

The display panel 300 may include a substrate, a thin-film transistorlayer disposed on the substrate, a light-emitting element layer, and athin-film encapsulation layer.

Since the display panel 300 is flexible, it can be formed of plastic.Then, the substrate may include a flexible substrate and a supportsubstrate. Because the support substrate supports the flexiblesubstrate, it may be less flexible. Each of the flexible substrate andthe support substrate may include a flexible polymer material. Forexample, each of the flexible substrate and the support substrate may bepolyethersulphone (PES), polyacrylate (PA), polyacrylate (PAR),polyetherimide (PEI), polyethylenenapthalate (PEN),polyethyleneterepthalate (PET), polyphenylenesulfide (PPS),polyallylate, polyimide (PI), polycarbonate (PC), cellulosetriacetate(CAT), cellulose acetate propionate (CAP), or combinations thereof.

A thin film transistor layer is disposed on the substrate. The thin filmtransistor layer may include scan lines, data lines, and thin filmtransistors. Each of the thin film transistors includes a gateelectrode, a semiconductor layer, and source and drain electrodes. Whena scan driver is formed directly on the substrate, it may be formedtogether with the thin film transistor layer.

The light-emitting element layer is disposed on the thin film transistorlayer. The light-emitting element layer includes anode electrodes, anemissive layer, a cathode electrode, and banks. The emissive layer mayinclude an organic emissive layer containing an organic material. Forexample, the emissive layer may include a hole injection layer, a holetransporting layer, an organic light-emitting layer, an electrontransporting layer, and an electron injection layer. The hole injectionlayer and the electron injection layer may not be included. When avoltage is applied to the anode electrode and the cathode electrode, theholes and electrons move to the organic emissive layer through the holetransporting layer and the electron transporting layer, respectively,such that they combine internal organic emissive layer to emit light.The light-emitting element layer may be a pixel array layer where pixelsare formed. Accordingly, the region where the light-emitting elementlayer is formed may be defined as a display area for displaying images.The peripheral area of the display area may be defined as a non-displayarea.

A thin encapsulation layer is disposed on the light-emitting elementlayer. The thin encapsulation layer serves to prevent permeation ofoxygen or moisture into the light-emitting element layer. The thinencapsulation layer may include at least one inorganic layer and atleast one organic layer.

The display circuit board 310 may be attached to one side of the displaypanel 300. Specifically, one side of the display circuit board 310 maybe attached to pads disposed on one side of the display panel 300 usingan anisotropic conductive film. The display circuit board 310 can bebent toward the lower surface of the display panel 300. The touchcircuit board 210 may also be bent toward the lower surface of thedisplay panel 300. Accordingly, the touch connection portion disposed atone end of the touch circuit board 210 may be connected to the touchconnector 312 a of the display circuit board 310. The display circuitboard 310 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

The display driver 320 outputs signals and voltages for driving thedisplay panel 300 through the display circuit board 310. The displaydriver 320 may be formed as an integrated circuit and mounted on thedisplay circuit board 310, but the inventive concepts are not limitedthereto. For example, the display driver 320 may be directly mounted onthe substrate of the display panel 300, specifically, on the uppersurface or the lower surface of the substrate of the display panel 300.

A panel support member 390 may be disposed under the display panel 300as shown in FIGS. 14A-14C. The panel support member 390 may be attachedto the lower surface of the display panel 300 through a third adhesivemember 930. The third adhesive member 930 may be a transparent adhesivefilm (OCA) or a transparent adhesive resin (OCR).

The panel support member 390 may include at least one of alight-absorbing member for absorbing light incident from outside, abuffer member for absorbing external impact, a heat dissipating memberfor efficiently discharging heat from the display panel 300, and alight-blocking layer for blocking light incident from outside.

The light-absorbing member may be disposed under the display panel 300.The light-absorbing member blocks the transmission of light to preventthe elements disposed under the light-absorbing member 410 from beingseen from above the display panel 300, such as the first pressure sensor511, the second pressure sensor 512, the third pressure sensor 513, thefourth pressure sensor 514, and the display circuit board 310. Thelight-absorbing member may include a light absorbing material, such as ablack pigment or a dye.

The buffer member may be disposed under the light-absorbing member. Thebuffer member absorbs an external impact to prevent the display panel300 from being damaged. The buffer member may be made up of a singlelayer or multiple layers. For example, the buffer member may be formedof a polymer resin such as polyurethane, polycarbonate, polypropyleneand polyethylene, or may be formed of a material having elasticity, suchas rubber and a sponge obtained by foaming a urethane-based material oran acrylic-based material. The buffer member may be a cushion layer.

The heat dissipating member may be disposed under the buffer member. Theheat dissipation member may include a first heat dissipation layerincluding graphite or carbon nanotubes, and a second heat dissipationlayer formed of a thin metal film such as copper, nickel, ferrite, andsilver, which can block electromagnetic waves and have high thermalconductivity.

Each of the first pressure sensor 511, the second pressure sensor 512,the third pressure sensor 513, and the fourth pressure sensor 514 may bedisposed at the edges of the first region DR1 and in the second regionsDR2 and the third regions DR3. It is, however, to be understood that theinventive concepts are not limited thereto. The first pressure sensor511, the second pressure sensor 512, the third pressure sensor 513, andthe fourth pressure sensor 514 are disposed from the second regions DR2to the third regions DR3, or may be disposed only in the third regionsDR3. Icon navigations may be disposed at the edges of the first regionDR1 such that they are in line with the first pressure sensor 511, thesecond pressure sensor 512, the third pressure sensor 513, and thefourth pressure sensor 514, respectively, to indicate the positions ofthe pressure sensitive cells to the user. In some exemplary embodiments,each of the first pressure sensor 511, the second pressure sensor 512,the third pressure sensor 513, and the fourth pressure sensor 514 may bedisposed only at the edges of the first region DR1 and in the secondregions DR2.

The first pressure sensor 511 may be disposed on the first longer sideLS1 of the display device 10 and under the display panel 300. The secondpressure sensor 512 may be disposed on the second longer side LS2 of thedisplay device 10 and under the display panel 300. The first pressuresensor 511 and the second pressure sensor 512 may be disposed such thatthey face each other in the first direction (x-axis direction).

The third pressure sensor 513 may be disposed on the first shorter sideSS1 of the display device 10 and under the display panel 300. The fourthpressure sensor 514 may be disposed on the second shorter side SS2 ofthe display device 10 and under the display panel 300. The thirdpressure sensor 513 and the fourth pressure sensor 514 may be disposedsuch that they face each other in the second direction (y-axisdirection).

Each of the first pressure sensor 511, the second pressure sensor 512,the third pressure sensor 513, and the fourth pressure sensor 514 may beattached to the lower surface of the panel support member 390. Each ofthe first pressure sensor 511, the second pressure sensor 512, the thirdpressure sensor 513, and the fourth pressure sensor 514 may be connectedto the display circuit board 310 via the pressure sensing circuit board550. Although the first pressure sensor 511, the second pressure sensor512, the third pressure sensor 513, and the fourth pressure sensor 514are connected to the single pressure sensing circuit board 550 in FIG.3, this is merely illustrative. The first pressure sensor 511, thesecond pressure sensor 512, the third pressure sensor 513, and thefourth pressure sensor 514 may be connected to the display circuit board310 via different pressure sensing circuit boards, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 3, on the display circuit board 310, the pressuresensing unit 330 may be disposed to drive the first pressure sensor 511,the second pressure sensor 512, the third pressure sensor 513, and thefourth pressure sensor 514 to sense a pressure. The pressure sensingunit 330 may be implemented as an integrated circuit. The pressuresensing unit 330 may be integrated with the display driver 320 to form asingle integrated circuit.

Alternatively, the pressure sensing circuit board 550 may be connectedto the touch circuit board 210 rather than the display circuit board310. Then, the pressure sensing unit 330 may be mounted on the touchcircuit board 210. The pressure sensing unit 330 may be integrated withthe touch driver 220 to form a single integrated circuit.

The middle frame 600 may be disposed below the panel support member 390.The middle frame 600 may include a synthetic resin, a metal, or both asynthetic resin and a metal.

In an exemplary embodiment, the waterproof member 400 may be disposed atthe edge of the middle frame 600. For example, the waterproof member 400may surround the ends of the side surfaces of the middle frame 600. Itis, however, to be understood that this is merely illustrative.

The waterproof member 400 may be disposed on the outer side of each ofthe first pressure sensor 511, the second pressure sensor 512, the thirdpressure sensor 513, and the fourth pressure sensor 514. The waterproofmember 400 may be attached to the lower surface of the panel supportmember 390 and the upper surface of the middle frame 600.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the waterproof member 400 is disposed on the outer sideof the first pressure sensor 511, the second pressure sensor 512, thethird pressure sensor 513, and the fourth pressure sensor 514, and thusit is possible to prevent moisture and dust from permeating between thedisplay panel 300 and the middle frame 600 by the waterproof member 400.That is to say, the display device 10 with waterproof and dustproofcapabilities can be produced.

In the middle frame 600, a first camera hole CMH1 for inserting a cameradevice 720, a battery hole BH for dissipating the heat from a battery,and a cable hole FH through which a second connection cable 314connected to the display circuit board 310 passes. Specifically, thecable hole CAH may be disposed adjacent to the right edge of the middleframe 600, and may be covered by the first pressure sensor 511 disposedunder the display panel 300 at the right edge of the display panel 300.Accordingly, the first pressure sensor 511 may include a first notch NTHon a side thereof for exposing the cable hole CAH, as shown in FIG. 2.

The middle frame 600 is disposed under the panel support member 390 ofthe display panel 300, the first pressure sensor 511, the secondpressure sensor 512, the third pressure sensor 513, and the fourthpressure sensor 514. The middle frame 600 can support the first pressuresensor 511, the second pressure sensor 512, the third pressure sensor513, and the fourth pressure sensor 514 when a pressure is applied tothe first pressure sensor 511, the second pressure sensor 512, the thirdpressure sensor 513, and the fourth pressure sensor 514. Accordingly,the first pressure sensor 511, the second pressure sensor 512, the thirdpressure sensor 513, and the fourth pressure sensor 514 may sense theapplied pressure sensor.

The main circuit board 700 may be disposed under the middle frame 600.The main circuit board 700 may be either a printed circuit board or aflexible printed circuit board.

The main circuit board 700 may include a main processor 710, a cameradevice 720, and a main connector 730. The main processor 710 and themain connector 730 may be disposed on the lower surface of the maincircuit board 700 facing the bottom cover 900. In addition, the cameradevice 720 may be disposed on both upper and lower surfaces of the maincircuit board 700.

The main processor 710 may control all the functions of the displaydevice 10. For example, the main processor 710 may output image data tothe display driver 320 of the display circuit board 310 so that thedisplay panel 300 displays an image. In addition, the main processor 710may receive touch data from the touch driver 220 to determine theposition of the user's touch, and then may execute an applicationindicated by the icon displayed at the position of the user's touch. Inaddition, the main processor 710 may receive pressure sensing data fromthe touch driver 220 or the pressure sensing unit 330 to run anapplication indicated by an icon at the position of the user's pressureaccording to the pressure sensing data. In addition, the main processor710 may vibrate the vibration generator according to the pressuresensing data to provide a haptic feedback. The main processor 710 may bean application processor, a central processing unit, or a system chipimplemented as an integrated circuit.

The camera device 720 processes image frames such as still image andvideo obtained by the image sensor in the camera mode and outputs themto the main processor 710.

The second connection cable 314 passing through the connector hole FH ofthe middle frame 600 may be connected to the main connector 730 disposedon the lower surface of the main circuit board 700 via a gap between themiddle frame 600 and the main circuit board 700. Accordingly, the maincircuit board 700 may be electrically connected to the display circuitboard 310 and the touch circuit board 210.

Besides, a mobile communications module capable oftransmitting/receiving a radio signal to/from at least one of a basestation, an external terminal, and a server over a mobile communicationsnetwork may be further mounted on the main circuit board 700. Thewireless signal may include various types of data depending on a voicesignal, a video call signal, or a text/multimedia messagetransmission/reception. In addition, the main circuit board 700 mayfurther include an audio output device capable of outputting sound, suchas a speaker.

In an exemplary embodiment, the bottom cover 900 may be disposed belowthe middle frame 600 and the main circuit board 700. The bottom cover900 may be fastened and fixed to the middle frame 600. For example, thebottom cover 900 may support the side surfaces of the cover window 100,the touch sensing device 200, the display panel 300 and the panelsupport member 390 which area the ends of the third regions DR3. It is,however, to be understood that the inventive concepts are not limitedthereto. The bottom cover 900 may cover the side surfaces and a part ofthe upper surface of each of the cover window 100, the touch sensingdevice 200, the display panel 300, and the panel support member 390 inthe third regions DR3.

The bottom cover 900 may form the exterior of the lower surface of thedisplay device 10. The bottom cover 900 may include plastic and/ormetal. A second camera hole CMH2 may be formed in the bottom cover 900via which the camera device 720 is inserted to protrude to the outside.The positions of the camera device 720 and the first and second cameraholes CMH1 and CMH2 in line with the camera device 720 are not limitedto those of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view showing an example of a display panel accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a planview showing an example of a middle frame according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a bottom view of a middleframe and a main circuit board according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

Hereinafter, referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the connection between thedisplay circuit is board 310 and the third circuit board 550 and theconnection between the second connection cable 314 and the mainconnector 730 of the main circuit board 700 will be described in detail.It is to be noted that FIG. 4 is a plan view while FIGS. 3 and 5 arebottom views and thus the left and right of the display device 10 inFIG. 4 are reversed in FIGS. 3 and 5. For convenience of illustration,the display circuit board 310 is depicted with a dashed line in FIG. 4,and the second connection cable 314 is depicted in a circle with adot-dash line.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the display circuit board 310 may include afirst circuit board 311, a second circuit board 312, and a firstconnection cable 313.

The first circuit board 311 may be attached to one side of the uppersurface or the lower surface of the substrate of the display panel 300and may be bent toward the lower surface of the substrate of the displaypanel 300. The first circuit board 311 may be fixed in the fixing holesFH formed in the middle frame 600 by fixing members as shown in FIG. 4.

The first circuit board 311 may include a display driver 320, a pressuresensing unit 330, a first connector 311 a, and a second connector 311 b.The display driver 320, the pressure sensing unit 330, the firstconnector 311 a, and the second connector 311 b may be disposed on thesurface of the first circuit board 311.

The first connector 311 a may be connected to one end of the firstconnection cable 313 connected to the second circuit board 312. Thedisplay driver 320 and the pressure sensing unit 330 mounted on thefirst circuit board 311 may be electrically connected to the secondcircuit board 312 via the first connection cable 313.

The second connector 311 b may be connected to one end of the thirdcircuit board 550 connected to the first pressure sensor 511, the secondpressure sensor 512, the third pressure sensor 513, and the fourthpressure sensor 514. Accordingly, the first pressure sensor 511, thesecond pressure sensor 512, the third pressure sensor 513, and thefourth pressure sensor 514 may be electrically connected to the pressuresensing unit 330.

The second circuit board 312 may include a touch connector 312 a, afirst connector 312 b, and a second connector 312 c. The first connector312 b and the second connector 312 c may be disposed on one surface ofthe second circuit board 312, and the touch connector 312 a may bedisposed on the other surface of the second circuit board 312.

The touch connector 312 a may be connected to a touch connection portiondisposed on one end of the touch circuit board 210. Accordingly, thetouch driver 220 may be electrically connected to the second circuitboard 312.

The first connector 312 b may be connected to the other end of the firstconnection cable 313 connected to the first circuit board 311. Thedisplay driver 320 and the pressure sensing unit 330 mounted on thefirst circuit board 311 may be electrically connected to the secondcircuit board 312 via the first connection cable 313.

The second connector 312 c may be connected to one end of a secondconnection cable 314 connected to the main connector 730 of the maincircuit board 700. Thus, the second circuit board 312 may beelectrically connected to the second circuit board 312 through thesecond connection cable 314.

A connecting portion 315 may be formed at the other end of the secondconnection cable 314. The connecting portion 315 of the secondconnection cable 314 may be extended below the middle frame 600 throughthe cable hole CAH of the middle frame 600 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.Since a first notch NTH1 is formed in the inner side of the firstpressure sensor 511 in line with the cable hole CAH of the middle frame600, the cable hole CAH of the middle frame 600 can be exposed withoutbeing covered by the first pressure sensor 511.

Since there is a gap between the middle frame 600 and the main circuitboard 700 as shown in FIG. 5, the connecting portion 315 of the secondconnection cable 314 passes through the cable hole CAH and then comesout of the gap between the middle frame 600 and the maintain circuitboard 700 to be extended under the main circuit board 700. Ultimately,the connector connecting portion 315 of the second connection cable 314may be connected to the main connector 730 disposed on the lower surfaceof the main circuit board 700.

According to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, a notch NTHis formed on one side of the first pressure sensor 511 so as not tocover the cable hole CAH of the middle frame 600. Accordingly, thesecond connection cable 314 connected to the display circuit board 310may be extended below the middle frame 600 through the cable hole CAHand may be connected to the main connector 730 of the main circuit board700. Therefore, the display circuit board 310 can be connected to themain circuit board 700 stably.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view showing pressure sensors disposed in the displaypanel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

Referring to FIG. 6, according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, a display panel 300 may include a first region DR1, a secondregion DR2, and a third region DR3. For example, the second region DR2may be extended from the first region DR1 toward one of the first andsecond shorter sides SS1 and SS2 and the first and second longer sidesLS1 and LS2. The third region DR3 may be extended from the second regionDR2 toward one of the first and second shorter sides SS1 and SS2 and thefirst and second longer sides LS1 and LS2. It is, however, to beunderstood that the inventive concepts are not limited thereto. Thesecond region DR2 and the third region DR3 may be disposed such thatthey surround the first region DR1. Although the length of the longerside of each of the second region DR2 and the third region DR3 is shownas being smaller than the length of the side of the first region DR1,this is merely illustrative. The length of the longer side of each ofthe second regions DR2 and the third regions DR3 extended from each sideof the first region DR1 may be equal to the length of the side of thefirst region DR1.

The second region DR2 and the third region DR3 of the display panel 300may be bent from the first region DR1 during the process of forming thedisplay device 10. For example, the first region DR1 of the displaypanel 300 may correspond to a flat portion as the main display area. Thesecond region DR2 may correspond to a curved portion extended from thefirst region DR1. The third region DR3 may correspond to a side surfaceof the second region DR2 as a vertical portion extended from the end tothe bottom. It is, however, to be understood that the inventive conceptsare not limited thereto. The second region DR2 may be a flat portioninclined from the first region DR1 at a predetermined angle. The thirdregion DR3 may be a curved portion extended from the second region DR2with a constant curvature. As such, the display panel 300 furtherincludes the second region DR2 and the third region DR3 extended fromthe first region DR1, so that the display device 10 can display imageson the even four side surfaces as well as the upper surface.

In an exemplary embodiment, the first pressure sensor 511, the secondpressure sensor 512, the third pressure sensor 513, and the fourthpressure sensor 514 are disposed under the display panel. Specifically,the first pressure sensor 511 may be disposed adjacent to the firstlonger side LS1 under the display panel 300 and may be extended in thesecond direction (y-axis direction). The second pressure sensor 512 maybe disposed adjacent to the second longer side LS2 under the displaypanel 300 and may be extended in the second direction (y-axisdirection). The third pressure sensor 513 may be disposed adjacent tothe second longer side SS1 under the display panel 300 and may beextended in the first direction (x-axis direction). The fourth pressuresensor 514 may be disposed adjacent to the second shorter side SS2 underthe display panel 300 and may be extended in the first direction (x-axisdirection). The first pressure sensor 511 and the second pressure sensor512 may face each other in the first direction (x-axis direction). Thethird pressure sensor 513 and the fourth pressure sensor 514 may faceeach other in the second direction (y-axis direction).

Each of the first pressure sensor 511, the second pressure sensor 512,the third pressure sensor 513, and the fourth pressure sensor 514 may bedisposed at the edges of the first region DR1 and in the second regionsDR2 and the third region DR3. It is, however, to be understood that theinventive concepts are not limited thereto. Each of the first pressuresensor 511, the second pressure sensor 512, the third pressure sensor513, and the fourth pressure sensor 514 are disposed from the secondregions DR2 to the third regions DR3 or may be disposed only in thethird regions DR3. In addition, one or more of the first pressure sensor511, the second pressure sensor 512, the third pressure sensor 513, andthe fourth pressure sensor 514 may be disposed at the edges of the firstregion DR1, in the second regions DR2, and the third regions DR3. Othersmay be disposed from the second regions DR2 to the third regions DR3.Each of the first pressure sensor 511, the second pressure sensor 512,the third pressure sensor 513, and the fourth pressure sensor 514 may bedisposed in different regions, respectively.

Each of the first pressure sensor 511, the second pressure sensor 512,the third pressure sensor 513, and the fourth pressure sensor 514 may bebent together with the display panel 300 during the process of formingthe display device 10, and can be assembled. Accordingly, the firstpressure sensor 511, the second pressure sensor 512, the third pressuresensor 513, and the fourth pressure sensor 514 can sense a pressure atthe four edges of the upper surface and the four side surfaces of thedisplay device 10.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a first pressure sensor and bumpsaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 isa plan view showing a second pressure sensor and bumps according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, the first pressure sensor 511 may have arectangular shape having shorter sides in a first direction (x-axisdirection) and longer sides in a second direction (y-axis direction)when viewed from the top. It is, however, to be understood that theinventive concepts are not limited thereto. The shape of the firstpressure sensor 511 may vary depending on where it is disposed.

The first pressure sensor 511 includes a plurality of pressure sensitivecells CE1 to CE8. Although the first pressure sensor 511 shown in FIG. 7includes eight pressure sensitive cells CE1 to CE8, the number of thepressure sensitive cells CE1 to CE8 is not limited to eight.

Each of the pressure sensitive cells CE1 to CE8 may individually sensethe pressure at the respective positions. Although the pressuresensitive cells CE1 to CE8 shown in FIG. 7 are arranged in a single row,the inventive concepts are not limited thereto. The pressure sensitivecells CE1 to CE8 may be arranged in several rows as desired. Inaddition, the pressure sensitive cells CE1 to CE8 may be arranged atpredetermined intervals as shown in FIG. 7 or may be arrangedcontinuously.

The pressure sensitive cells CE1 to CE8 may have different areasdepending on the use. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the first toseventh pressure sensitive cells CE1 to CE7 may be used as physicalbuttons, such as volume control buttons VB+ and VB− and a power buttonPB disposed on the edge of one side and the side surface of the displaydevice 10. The eighth pressure sensitive cell CE8 may be used as abutton SQB for sensing a user's squeezing pressure. The eighth pressuresensitive cell CE8 may be formed to have a larger area than the first toseventh pressure sensitive cells CE1 to CE7. The eighth pressuresensitive cell CE8 may be longer than the first to seventh pressuresensitive cells CE1 to CE7 in the longitudinal direction (y-axisdirection) of the first pressure sensor 511.

Additionally, although the first to seventh pressure sensitive cells CE1to CE7 used as physical buttons have the same area in FIG. 7, theinventive concepts are not limited thereto. That is to say, the first toseventh pressure sensitive cells CE1 to CE7 may have different areasfrom one another. Alternatively, some of the first to seventh pressuresensitive cells CE1 to CE7 may have the same area while the others mayhave the same area, which is different from the area of the some of thepressure sensitive cells.

A plurality of bumps BP may be disposed on the first to eighth pressuresensitive cells CE1 to CE8, respectively, such that they overlap withthe first to eighth pressure sensitive cells CE1 to CE8, respectively.The bumps are used to press the first to eighth pressure sensitive cellsCE1 to CE8 in proportional to a user's pressure. Accordingly, the user'spressure may be sensed by the first to eighth pressure sensitive cellsCE1 to CE8.

In order to increase the pressure applied to the first to eighthpressure sensitive cells CE1 to CE8 by the bumps BP, each of the bumpsBP may have a smaller area than the respective pressure sensitive cellsCE1 to CE8. The bumps BP may be formed in an area smaller than thepressure sensing layers PSL (see FIG. 12) of the first to eighthpressure sensitive cells CE1 to CE8, respectively.

The area of each of the bumps BP may be proportional to the area of therespective pressure sensitive cells. For example, as shown in FIG. 7,when the area of the eighth pressure sensitive cell CE8 is larger thanthe area of each of the first to seventh pressure sensitive cells CE1 toCE7, the area of the bump BP on the eighth pressure sensitive cell CE8may be larger than the area of the each of the bumps BP on the first toseventh pressure sensitive cells CE1 to CE7.

In addition, in order not to cover the cable hole CAH of the middleframe 600, a first notch NTH1 may be formed at the portion of the firstpressure sensor 511 that is in line with the cable hole CAH of themiddle frame 600.

The second pressure sensor 512 and the bumps BP shown in FIG. 8 areidentical to the first pressure sensor 511 and the bumps BP shown inFIG. 7, respectively, except that the second pressure sensor 512 doesnot include the first notch NTH1. The second pressure sensor 512 and thebumps BP shown in FIG. 8 will not be described in detail.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a third pressure sensor and bumpsaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10is a plan view showing a fourth pressure sensor and bumps according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, the third pressure sensor 513 may have arectangular shape having shorter sides in the second direction (y-axisdirection) and longer sides in the first direction (x-axis direction)when viewed from the top. It is, however, to be understood that theinventive concepts are not limited thereto. The shape of the thirdpressure sensor 513 may vary depending on where it is disposed.

The third pressure sensor 513 includes a plurality of pressure sensitivecells CE1 to CE6. Although the third pressure sensor 513 shown in FIG. 9includes six pressure sensitive cells CE1 to CE6, the number of thepressure sensitive cells CE1 to CE6 is not limited to six.

Each of the pressure sensitive cells CE1 to CE6 may individually sensethe pressure at the respective positions. Although the pressuresensitive cells CE1 to CE6 shown in FIG. 9 are arranged in a single row,the inventive concepts are not limited thereto. The pressure sensitivecells CE1 to CE6 may be arranged in several rows as desired. Inaddition, the pressure sensitive cells CE1 to CE6 may be arranged atpredetermined intervals as shown in FIG. 9 or may be arrangedcontinuously.

The pressure sensitive cells CE1 to CE6 may have different areasdepending on the use. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the first tosixth pressure sensitive cells CE1 to CE6 may be used as physicalbuttons such as a call button CB, a camera button CMB and an Internetbutton IB disposed on the edge of one side and the side surface of thedisplay device 10.

Additionally, although the first to sixth pressure sensitive cells CE1to CE6 used as physical buttons have the same area in FIG. 9, theinventive concepts are not limited thereto. That is to say, the first tosixth pressure sensitive cells CE1 to CE6 may have different areas fromone another. Alternatively, some of the first to sixth pressuresensitive cells CE1 to CE6 may have the same area while the others mayhave the same area, which is different from the area of the some of thepressure sensitive cells.

A plurality of bumps BP may be disposed on the first to sixth pressuresensitive cells CE1 to CE6, respectively, such that they overlap withthe first to sixth pressure sensitive cells CE1 to CE6, respectively.The bumps are used to press the first to sixth pressure sensitive cellsCE1 to CE6 in proportional to a user's pressure. Accordingly, the user'spressure may be sensed by the first to sixth pressure sensitive cellsCE1 to CE6.

Since the fourth pressure sensor 514 and the bumps BP shown in FIG. 10are substantially identical to the third pressure sensor 513 and thebumps BP, the fourth pressure sensor 514 and the bumps BP shown in FIG.10 will not be described to avoid redundancy.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of area A shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 12 is across-sectional view taken along line III-III′ of FIG. 11.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the second pressure sensor 512 includes afirst substrate SUB1, a second substrate SUB2, a driving line TL, firstto eighth sensing lines RL1 to RL8, a driving pad TP, first to eighthsensing pads RP1 to RP8, and first to eighth pressure sensitive cellsCE1 to CE8.

FIG. 11 shows only the fourth pressure sensitive cell CE4, the fifthpressure sensitive cell CE5, and the pad area PAD for convenience ofillustration. In FIG. 8, the second substrate SUB2 is not shown forconvenience of illustration.

The first substrate SUB1 faces the second substrate SUB2. Each of thefirst substrate SUB1 and the second substrate SUB2 may include amaterial such as polyethylene, polyimide, polycarbonate, polysulfone,polyacrylate, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl alcohol,poly(norbornene), and polyester. According to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention, each of the first substrate SUB1 and the secondsubstrate SUB2 may be formed as a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) filmor a polyimide film.

The pressure sensitive cells CE1 to CE8 are disposed between the firstsubstrate SUB1 and the second substrate SUB2. The driving line TL, thesensing lines RL1 to RL8, the driving pad TP, and the sensing pads RP1to RP8 are disposed on one surface of the first substrate SUB1 facingthe second substrate SUB2. The pressure sensitive cells CE1 to CE8 aredisposed between the first substrate SUB1 and the second substrate SUB2.

Each of the pressure sensitive cells CE1 to CE8 may be connected to atleast one driving line and at least one sensing line. For example, whilethe pressure sensitive cells CE1 to CE8 are commonly connected to thesingle driving line TL, they may be connected to the sensing lines RL1to RL8, respectively. As shown in FIG. 11, the fourth pressure sensitivecell CE4 may be connected to the driving line TL and the fourth sensingline RL4, while the fifth pressure sensitive cell CE5 may be connectedto the driving line TL and the fifth sensing line RL5.

The driving line TL may be connected to the driving pad TP, and thesensing lines RL1 to RL8 may be connected to the sensing pads RP1 toRP8, respectively. The first sensing line RL1 may be connected to thefirst sensing pad RP1, the second sensing line RL2 may be connected tothe second sensing pad RP2, the third sensing line RL3 may be connectedto the third sensing pad RP2, and the fourth sensing line RL4 may beconnected to the fourth sensing pad RP4. The fifth sensing line RL5 maybe connected to the fifth sensing pad RP5, the sixth sensing line RL6may be connected to the sixth sensing pad RP6, the seventh sensing lineRL7 may be connected to the seventh sensing pad RP7, and the eighthsensing line RL8 may be connected to the eighth sensing pad RP8.

The pad area PAD may protrude from one side of the first substrate SUB1.The side of the first substrate SUB1 may be the longer side of the firstpressure sensor 511. Although the pad area PAD protrudes from the centerof the longer side of the first substrate SUB1 in FIG. 8, the presentdisclosure is not limited thereto. That is to say, the pad area PAD mayprotrude from one end or the other end of the longer side of the firstsubstrate SUB1.

The driving pad TP and the sensing pads RP1 to RP8 may be disposed inthe pad area PAD. The driving pad TP and the sensing pads RP1 to RP8 maybe connected to a driving lead line TL_F and sensing lead lines RL1_F toRL8_F of the third circuit board 550, respectively, through ananisotropic conductive film. The driving pad TP may be connected to thedriving lead line TL_F, the first sensing pad RP1 may be connected to afirst sensing lead line RL1_F, the second sensing pad RP2 may beconnected to a second sensing lead line RL2_F, the third sensing pad RP3may be connected to a third sensing lead line RL3_F, and the fourthsensing pad RP4 may be connected to a fourth sensing lead line RL4_F. Inaddition, the fifth sensing pad RP5 may be connected to the fifthsensing lead line RP5_F, the sixth sensing pad RP6 may be connected tothe sixth sensing lead line RP6_F, the seventh sensing pad RP7 may beconnected to the seventh sensing lead line RP7_F, and the eighth sensingpad RP8 may be connected to the eighth sensing lead line RP8_F.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 8, and 11, the third circuit board 550 is connectedto the display circuit board 310 so that the third circuit board 550 maybe electrically connected to the pressure sensing unit 330 mounted onthe display circuit board 310. The pressure sensing unit 330 applies adriving voltage to the driving line TL through the driving lead lineTL_F of the third circuit board 550 and the driving pad TP of the secondpressure sensor 512, and senses the current values or voltage valuesfrom the sensing lines RL1 to RL8 through the sensing lead lines RL1_Fto RL8_F connected to the sensing pads RP1 to RP8 of the first pressuresensor 511, to thereby sense the pressure applied to the pressuresensitive cells CE1 to CE8.

The second pressure sensor 512 may further include a coupling layer CKdisposed between the first substrate SUB1 and the second substrate SUB2to couple them together. The coupling layer CK may be implemented as apressure-sensitive adhesive layer or an adhesive layer. The couplinglayer CK may be disposed along the periphery of the first substrate SUB1and the second substrate SUB2. In an exemplary embodiment, the couplinglayer CK may completely surround the edges of the first substrate SUB1and the second substrate SUB2 to seal the inside of the second pressuresensor 512. In addition, the coupling layer CK may serve as a spacer formaintaining the distance between the first substrate SUB1 and the secondsubstrate SUB2. In FIG. 11, the coupling layer CK is not formed in thepad area PAD. Accordingly, no coupling layer overlaps with the drivingline TL, the sensing lines RL1 to RLp, the pressure sensitive cells CE1to CEp, the driving pad TP and the sensing pads RP1 to RP8. It is,however, to be understood that the inventive concepts are not limitedthereto. For example, the coupling layer CK may be disposed such that itoverlaps with the driving line TL, the sensing lines RL1 to RLp, thepressure sensitive cells CE1 to CEp, the driving pad TP and the sensingpads RP1 to RPp.

The coupling layer CK may be first attached to one surface of one of thefirst substrate SUB1 and the second substrate SUB2 and then attached toone surface of the other substrate during the process of attaching thefirst substrate SUB1 and the second substrate SUB2 together. As anotherexample, a coupling layer CK may be disposed on each of one surface ofthe first substrate SUB1 and one surface of the second substrate SUB2,and then the coupling layer CK on the first substrate SUB1 may beattached to the coupling layer CK on the second substrate SUB2 duringthe process of attaching the first substrate SUB1 and the secondsubstrate SUB2 together.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, each of the pressure sensitive cells CE1 toCE8 includes a driving connection electrode TCE, a sensing connectionelectrode RCE, driving electrodes TE1, sensing electrodes RE1, and apressure sensing layer PSL.

The driving connection electrode TCE, the sensing connection electrodeRCE, the driving electrodes TE1, and the sensing electrodes RE1 aredisposed on the first substrate SUB1 facing the second substrate SUB2.

The driving connection electrode TCE is connected to the driving line TLand the driving electrode TE1. Specifically, the driving connectionelectrode TCE is connected to the driving line TL at one end in thelongitudinal direction (y-axis direction). The driving electrodes TE1may branch off in the width direction (x-axis direction) of the drivingconnection electrode TCE.

The sensing connection electrode RCE is connected to one of the sensinglines RL1 to RL8 and the sensing electrodes RE1. Specifically, thesensing connection electrode TCE is connected to one of the sensinglines RL1 to RL8 at one end in the longitudinal direction (y-axisdirection). The sensing electrodes RE1 may branch off in the widthdirection (x-axis direction) of the sensing connection electrode RCE.

The driving electrodes TE1 and the sensing electrodes RE1 may bedisposed on the same layer. The driving electrodes TE1 and the sensingelectrodes RE1 may be made of the same material. For example, thedriving electrodes TE1 and the sensing electrodes RE1 may include aconductive material such as silver (Ag) and copper (Cu). The drivingelectrodes TE1 and the sensing electrodes RE1 may be formed on the firstsubstrate SUB1 by screen printing.

The driving electrodes TE1 and the sensing electrodes RE1 are disposedadjacent to each other but are not connected to each other. The drivingelectrodes TE1 and the sensing electrodes RE1 may be arranged inparallel with one another. The driving electrodes TE1 and the sensingelectrodes RE1 may be alternately arranged in the longitudinal direction(y-axis direction) of the driving connection electrode TCE and thesensing connection electrode RCE. That is to say, the driving electrodeTE1, the sensing electrode RE1, the driving electrode TE1 and thesensing electrode RE1 may be arranged repeatedly in this order in thelongitudinal direction (y-axis direction) of the driving connectionelectrode TCE and the sensing connection electrode RCE.

The pressure sensing layer PSL is disposed on the surface of the secondsubstrate SUB2 facing the first substrate SUB1. The pressure sensinglayer PSL may be disposed such that it overlaps with the drivingelectrodes TE1 and the sensing electrodes RE1.

The pressure sensing layer PSL may include a pressure sensitive materialand a polymer resin where the pressure sensitive material is disposed.The pressure sensitive material may be metal microparticles (or metalnanoparticles) such as nickel, aluminum, titanium, tin and copper. Forexample, the pressure sensing layer PSL may be a quantum tunnelingcomposite (QTC).

When no pressure in the height direction (z-axis direction) of thesecond pressure sensor 512 is applied to the second substrate SUB2,there is a gap between the pressure sensing layer PSL and the drivingelectrode TE1 and between the pressure sensing layer PSL and the sensingelectrodes RE1 as shown in FIG. 12. That is to say, when no pressure isapplied to the second substrate SUB2, the pressure sensing layer PSL isspaced apart from the driving electrodes TE1 and the sensing electrodesRE1.

When a pressure is applied to the second substrate SUB2 in the heightdirection (z-axis direction) of the second pressure sensor 512, thepressure sensing layer PSL may come in contact with the drivingelectrodes TE1 and the sensing electrodes RE1. In this case, at leastone of the driving electrodes TE1 and at least one of the sensingelectrodes RE1 may be physically connected through the pressure sensinglayer PSL, and the pressure sensing layer PSL may function as anelectrical resistance.

According to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the areain which the pressure sensing layer PSL comes in contact with thedriving electrodes TE1 and with the sensing electrodes RE1 depending onthe pressure applied to the second pressure sensor 512, such that theresistance value of the sensing line electrically connected to thesensing electrodes RE1. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the higher thepressure applied to the pressure sensitive cells of the second pressuresensor 512 is, the lower the resistance value of the sensing line. Thepressure sensing unit 330 senses a change in current value or a voltagevalue from the sensing lines RL1 to RL8, thereby sensing the pressurethat the user presses by a finger.

Although the second pressure sensor 512 has been described above as anexample, the first pressure sensor 511, the third pressure sensor 513,and the fourth pressure sensor 514 are substantially identical to thesecond pressure sensor 512 shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. Therefore, thefirst pressure sensor 511, the third pressure sensor 513, and the fourthpressure sensor 514 will not be described in detail.

FIG. 13 is a view showing an example of a display device in whichpressure sensors are used as physical buttons according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 shows the first to eighth pressure sensitive cells CE1 to CE8 ofthe first pressure sensor 511 disposed on the first longer side LS1 ofthe display device 10 and the first to sixth pressure sensitive cellsCE1 to CE6 disposed on the first shorter side SS1 of the display device10.

The first pressure sensor 511 and the third pressure sensor 513 may beused for the display device 10 as physical buttons. Specifically, when apressure is applied to the first to eighth pressure sensitive cells CE1to CE8 of the first pressure sensor 511 formed on the first longer sideLS1 of the display device 10 and to the first to sixth pressuresensitive cells CE1 to CE6 of the third pressure sensor 513 formed onthe first shorter side SS1 of the display device 10, a predeterminedapplication or operation can be performed.

For example, among the first to eighth pressure sensitive cells CE1 toCE8 of the first pressure sensor 511 formed on the first longer side LS1of the display device 10, the first pressure sensitive cell CE1 and thesecond pressure sensitive cell CE2 may be utilized as volume-up buttonsVB+ which the user presses to turn up the volume of the display device10. The third pressure sensitive cell CE3 and the fourth pressuresensitive cell CE4 may be utilized as volume-down buttons VB− which theuser presses to turn down the volume of the display device 10. The fifthpressure sensitive cell CE5, the sixth pressure sensitive cell CE6 andthe seventh pressure sensitive cell CE7 may be utilized as power buttonsPWB which the user presses to turn off the power.

When a pressure is sensed from the first pressure sensitive cell CE1 andthe second pressure sensitive cell CE2 formed on the first longer sideLS1 of the display device 10, the main processor 710 may control thespeaker of the display device 10 so that the volume is turned up. Inaddition, when a pressure is sensed from the third pressure sensitivecell CE3 and the fourth pressure sensitive cell CE4 formed on the firstlonger side LS1 of the display device 10, the main processor 710 maycontrol the speaker of the display device 10 so that the volume isturned up. In addition, when a pressure is sensed from the fifthpressure sensitive cell CE5 and the sixth pressure sensitive cell CE6and the seventh pressure sensitive cell CE7 formed on the first longerside LS1 of the display device 10, the main processor 710 may controlthe display device 10 so that the screen is turned off or the screen onwhich a user can select the power off may be output. The eighth pressuresensitive cell CE8 formed on the first longer side LS1 of the displaydevice 10 may be utilized as a squeezing sensing button SB. Thesqueezing pressure applied to the eighth pressure sensitive cell CE8 maybe greater than the pressure applied to the first to seventh pressuresensitive cells CE1 to CE7. When a squeezing pressure is sensed from theeighth pressure sensitive cell CE8 on each of the left curved portionand the right curved portion, the main processor 710 may control so thata predetermined application or operation is performed. For example, whena squeezing pressure is sensed from the eighth pressure sensitive cellCE8 formed on the first longer side LS1 of the display device 10, themain processor 710 may control the display device 10 so that it isturned on from the sleep mode.

In addition, among the first to sixth pressure sensitive cells CE1 toCE6 formed on the first shorter side SS1 of the display device 10, thefirst pressure sensitive cell CE1 and the second pressure sensitive cellCE2 may be utilized as a call button CB which the user presses to run aphone application on the display device 10. The third pressure sensitivecell CE3 and the fourth pressure sensitive cell CE4 may be utilized as acamera button CMB, which the user presses to run a camera application.The fifth pressure sensitive cell CE5 and the sixth pressure sensitivecell CE6 may be utilized as an Internet button, which the user pressesto run an Internet application.

When a pressure is sensed from the first pressure sensitive cell CE1 andthe second pressure sensitive cell CE2 formed on the first shorter sideSS1 of the display device 10, the main processor 710 may control thedisplay device 10 so that a phone application is run. In addition, whena pressure is sensed from the third pressure sensitive cell CE3 and thefourth pressure sensitive cell CE4 formed on the first shorter side SS1of the display device 10, the main processor 710 may control the displaydevice 10 so that a camera application is run. When a pressure is sensedfrom the fifth pressure sensitive cell CE5 and the sixth pressuresensitive cell CE6 formed on the first shorter side SS1 of the displaydevice 10, the main processor 710 may control the display device 10 sothat an Internet application is run.

It is to be understood that the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 13 ismerely one example, and thus the inventive concepts are not limitedthereto. Specifically, as a pressure is applied to the first to eighthpressure sensitive cells CE1 to CE8 of the first pressure sensor 511located on the first longer side LS1 of the display device 10 and to thefirst to sixth pressure sensitive cells CE1 to CE6 of the third pressuresensor 513 located on the first shorter side SS1 of the display device10, a variety of functions, including the above-described functions orother functions, can be performed. Although not shown in the drawings,each of the first to eighth pressure sensitive cells CE1 to CE8 of thesecond pressure sensor 512 located on the second longer side and thefirst to sixth pressure sensitive cells CE1 to CE8 of the fourthpressure sensor located on the second shorter side may allow a varietyof functions to be executed.

FIGS. 14A to 14C are cross-sectional views showing examples of displaydevices, taken along line I-I′ of FIG. 1. FIGS. 15A to 15C arecross-sectional views showing examples of display devices, taken alongline II-II′ of FIG. 1. FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of an exampleof a first pressure sensor, a bump, and a waterproof member.

Referring to FIGS. 14A to 14C and 16, a display device 10 may include acover window 100, a touch sensing device 200, a display panel 300, apanel support member 390, a middle frame 600, and a bottom cover 900.

In an exemplary embodiment, the cover window 100, the touch sensingdevice 200, the display panel 300, the panel support member 390 and themiddle frame 600 may be flat in the first region DR1, may be curved inthe second regions DR2, and may be flat in the third regions DR3. Forexample, the cover window 100, the touch sensing device 200, the displaypanel 300, the panel support member 390 and the middle frame 600 may beflat in the first region DR1 in the first direction (x-axis direction),may be flat in the third regions DR3 in the third direction (z-axisdirection), and may be curved in the second regions DR2 to connect thefirst region DR1 and the second regions DR2. That is to say, each of thecover window 100, the touch sensing device 200, the display panel 300,the panel support member 390 and the middle frame 600 may be formed as aflat portion in the first region DR1 as the upper surface, may be formedas upper curved portions in the second regions DR2, and may be formed asvertical portions in the third regions DR3 as the side surfaces. It is,however, to be understood that this is merely illustrative.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as shownin FIG. 14A, each of the first pressure sensor 511 and the secondpressure sensor 512 may be disposed from the first region DR1 to thesecond regions DR2 and from the second regions DR2 to the third regionsDR3 of the display device 10. It is, however, to be understood that theinventive concepts are not limited thereto. As shown in FIG. 14B, eachof the first pressure sensor 511 and the second pressure sensor 512 maybe disposed from the second regions DR2 and the third regions DR3.Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 14C, each of the first pressure sensor511 and the second pressure sensor 512 may be disposed only in the thirdregions DR3. For example, when the width of the third regions DR3 of thedisplay device is small, each of the first pressure sensor 511 and thesecond pressure sensor 512 may be disposed from the first region DR1 tothe third regions DR3, or may be disposed from the second regions DR2 tothe third regions DR3, or may be disposed only in the second regions DR2in some implementations. When the width of the third regions DR3 issufficiently large, each of the first pressure sensor 511 and the secondpressure sensor 512 may be disposed only in the third regions DR3. Inaddition, one of the first pressure sensor 511 or the second pressuresensor 512 may be disposed at the edge of the first region DR1, thesecond regions DR2, and the third regions DR3, and the other may bedisposed in the second regions DR2 and the third regions DR3.

Bumps BP may be disposed on the first pressure sensors 511. Each of thebumps BP may be disposed on the lower surface of the panel supportmember 390 via a fourth adhesive member 940 and may be attached to theupper surfaces of the first pressure sensor 511 and the second pressuresensor 512 via a sixth adhesive member 960. Further, each of the firstpressure sensor 511 and the second pressure sensor 512 may be attachedto the upper surface of the middle frame 600 via a fifth adhesive member950. The fourth adhesive member 940, the fifth adhesive member 950, andthe sixth adhesive member 960 may be pressure sensitive adhesives (PSA).Either the fourth adhesive member 940 or the fifth adhesive member 950may be eliminated.

The waterproof member 400 may be disposed on the outer side of each ofthe first pressure sensor 511 and the second pressure sensor 512. Inother words, the waterproof member 400 may be disposed on one side ofeach of the first pressure sensor 511 and the second pressure sensor512.

The waterproof member 400 may be attached to the lower surface of thepanel support member 390 and the side surface of the middle frame 600.To this end, as shown in FIG. 16, the waterproof member 400 may includea base film 411, a first adhesive layer 412 disposed on a surface of thebase film 411, and a second adhesive layer 413 disposed on the othersurface of the base film 411. The base film 411 may be a polyethyleneterephthalate (PET), a polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) and a cushionlayer, or a polyethylene foam (PE-foam). The first adhesive layer 412and the second adhesive layer 413 may be pressure sensitive adhesive(PSA). The first adhesive layer 412 may be adhered to the lower surfaceof the panel support member 390, and the second adhesive layer 413 maybe adhered to the side surface of the middle frame 600. The side surfaceof the middle frame 600 may be defined as a flat surface in the thirddirection (z-axis direction) in the third region DR3.

The side surfaces of each of the cover window 100, the touch sensingdevice 200, the display panel 300, and the panel support member 390 maybe disposed on the upper surface of the bottom cover 900. For example,the side surfaces of each of the cover window 100, the touch sensingdevice 200, the display panel 300, and the panel support member 390 maybe attached and fixed to the upper surface of the bottom cover 900 viaan adhesive material or a connection member. With this configuration,images can be displayed in each of the first region DR1, the secondregions DR2, and the third regions DR3 of the display device 10, and thepressure sensors can be utilized at the edges of the first region DR1,in the second regions DR2, and in the third regions DR3. The waterproofmember 400 is disposed on the outer side of each of the first pressuresensor 511 and the second pressure sensor 512 and attaches the lowersurface of the panel support member 390 to the side surface of themiddle frame 600. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent moisture anddust from permeating between the display panel 300 and the middle frame600 by the waterproof member 400.

The examples shown in FIGS. 15A to 15C are substantially identical tothe example shown in FIGS. 14A to 14C except that a third pressuresensor and a fourth pressure sensor are disposed; and, therefore, theredundant description will be omitted.

FIG. 17 is a bottom view showing pressure sensors disposed in thedisplay panel according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 18 is a bottom view showing pressure sensors disposedin the display panel according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure. The examples shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 aresubstantially identical to the example shown in FIG. 6 except that theshape and positions of a first pressure sensor and a second pressuresensor are different; and, therefore, the redundant description will beomitted.

Referring to FIG. 17, pressure sensors 511_1 and 512_1 according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a firstpressure sensor 511_1 and a second pressure sensor 512_1. The firstpressure sensor 511_1 may include a first sensor part 511 a, a secondsensor part 511 b, and a connection part 511 c. A first sensor part 511a may be disposed adjacent to the first longer side LS1 under thedisplay panel 300 and may be extended in the second direction (y-axisdirection). The second sensor part 511 b may be disposed adjacent to thefirst shorter side SS1 under the display panel 300 and may be extendedthe first direction (x-axis direction). The connection part 511 c mayconnect the first sensor part 511 a with the second sensor part 511 b.The connection part 511 c may be disposed at the corner between thefirst shorter side SS1 and the first longer side LS1, may be thinnerthan the first sensor part 511 a and the second sensor part 511 b, andmay be disposed along the corner between the first shorter side SS1 andthe first longer side LS1. It is, however, to be understood that thepresent disclosure is not limited thereto. The first sensor part 511 amay be connected to the second sensor part 511 b in a variety of ways.

The second pressure sensor 512_1 may include a first sensor part 512 a,a second sensor part 512 b, and a connection part 512 c. The firstsensor part 512 a may be disposed adjacent to the second longer side LS2under the display panel 300 and may be extended in the second direction(y-axis direction). The second sensor part 512 b may be disposedadjacent to the second shorter side SS2 under the display panel 300 andmay be extended the first direction (x-axis direction). The connectionpart 512 c may connect the first sensor part 512 a with the secondsensor part 512 b. The connection part 512 c may be disposed at thecorner between the second shorter side SS2 and the second longer sideLS2, may be thinner than the first sensor part 512 a and the secondsensor part 511 b, and may be disposed along the corner between thesecond shorter side SS2 and the second longer side LS2. It is, however,to be understood that the inventive concepts are not limited thereto.The first sensor part 512 a may be connected to the second sensor part512 b in a variety of ways.

The arrangement of the first pressure sensor and the second pressuresensor is not limited thereto. For example, the first sensor part 511 aof the first pressure sensor 511_1 may be disposed adjacent to the firstlonger side LS1 under the display panel 300 and may be extended in thesecond direction (y-axis direction). The second sensor part 511 b may bedisposed adjacent to the second shorter side SS2 under the display panel300 and may be extended the first direction (x-axis direction). Theconnection part 511 c may be disposed at the corner between the secondshorter side SS2 and the first longer side LS1. The first sensor part512 a of the second pressure sensor 512_1 may be disposed adjacent tothe second longer side LS2 under the display panel 300 and may beextended in the second direction (y-axis direction). The second sensorpart 511 b may be disposed adjacent to the second shorter side SS2 underthe display panel 300 and may be extended the first direction (x-axisdirection). The connection part 511 c may be disposed at the cornerbetween the first shorter side SS1 and the second longer side LS2.

Referring to FIG. 18, pressure sensors 511_2 and 512 according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a firstpressure sensor 511_2 and a second pressure sensor 512. The firstpressure sensor 511_2 may include a first sensor part 511 a, a secondsensor part 511 b, a third sensor part 511 d, a first connection part511 c, and a second connection part 511 e.

The first sensor part 511 a may be disposed adjacent to the first longerside LS1 under the display panel 300 and may be extended in the seconddirection (y-axis direction). The second sensor part 511 b may bedisposed adjacent to the first shorter side SS1 under the display panel300 and may be extended the first direction (x-axis direction). Thethird sensor part 511 d may be disposed adjacent to the second shorterside SS2 under the display panel 300 and may be extended the firstdirection (x-axis direction).

The first connection part 511 c connects the first sensor part 511 awith the second sensor part 511 b, and the second connection part 511 econnects the first sensor part 511 a with the third sensor part 511 d.

The first connection part 511 c may be disposed at the corner betweenthe first shorter side SS1 and the first longer side LS1, may be thinnerthan the first sensor part 511 a and the second sensor part 511 b, andmay be disposed along the corner between the first shorter side SS1 andthe first longer side LS1. The second connection part 511 e may bedisposed at the corner between the second shorter side SS2 and the firstlonger side LS1, may be thinner than the first sensor part 511 a and thethird sensor part 511 d, and may be disposed along the corner betweenthe second shorter side SS2 and the first longer side LS1.

The second pressure sensor 512 may be disposed adjacent to the secondlonger side LS2 under the display panel 300 and may be extended in thesecond direction (y-axis direction). The sensor part 512 b may bedisposed adjacent to the second shorter side SS2 under the display panel300 and may be extended in the first direction (x-axis direction).

The arrangement of the first pressure sensor and the second pressuresensor is not limited thereto. For example, the pressure sensorsdisposed on three sides of the first and second shorter sides SS1 andSS2 and the first and second longer sides LS1 and LS2 may be connectedto one another, and the pressure sensor disposed on the other side ofthe four sides may be separately disposed.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view showing a display device according toanother exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along lineI-I′ of FIG. 1. FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view showing a displaydevice according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure, taken along line II-II′ of FIG. 1. The examples shown inFIGS. 19 and 20 are substantially identical to the example shown inFIGS. 14 and 15 except that the formers include fourth regions.Therefore, the redundant description will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 19, a display device 10_1 may include a cover window100, a touch sensing device 200, a display panel 300, a panel supportmember 390, a middle frame 600, and a bottom cover 900.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thedisplay device 10_1 may include a first region DR1, second regions DR2,third regions DR3, and fourth regions DR4 located on different planes,respectively. The first region DR1 is placed in a first plane. Thesecond regions DR2 are connected to the first region DR1 and are bent orcurved therefrom. The second regions DR2 may be placed in a second planeintersecting with the first plane at a predetermined angle or may have acurved surface. The second regions DR2 of the display device 10_1 aredisposed in the vicinity of the first region DR1. The third regions DR3are connected to the second regions DR2 and are bent or curvedtherefrom, respectively. The third regions DR3 may be located on a thirdplane intersecting with the second plane with a predetermined angle. Thethird plane may be a surface perpendicular to the first plane. Thefourth regions DR4 are connected to the third regions DR3 and are bentor curved therefrom. The fourth regions DR4 may be located on the fourthplane intersecting with the third plane with a predetermined angle ormay have a curved surface. The fourth regions DR4 may be extended to thelower surface of the display device 10_1. In this manner, the fourthregions DR4 are extended to the lower surface of the display device 10_1so that images can be displayed even on the lower surface, andaccordingly the display area can be effectively increased withoutincreasing the size of the display device 10_1.

The fourth regions DR4 may be flat surfaces and curved surfaces extendedfrom the third regions DR3 to the lower surface. For example, each ofthe fourth regions DR4 may include a curved surface extended from therespective third regions DR3 to the lower surface and a flat surfaceextended from the end of the curved surface. The curved surfaces of thefourth regions DR4 may be symmetrical to the curved surfaces of thesecond regions DR2, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.The second regions DR2 and the fourth regions DR4 may be curved surfaceshaving different curvatures. In addition, the second regions DR2 mayhave a flat surface intersecting with the first region DR1 with apredetermined angle while the fourth regions DR4 may be curved surfaces.Alternatively, the second regions DR2 may be curved surfaces while thefourth regions DR4 may have a flat surface intersecting with the thirdregions DR3 with a predetermined angle.

The first region DR1 of the display device 10 is used as the maindisplay surface. However, the second regions DR2, the third regions DR3and the fourth regions DR4 as well as the first region DR1 may also beused as the display area of the display device 10_1. In the followingdescription, the first region DR1 of the display device 10_1 is a flatportion, which is the upper surface of the display device 10, the secondregions DR2 are upper curved portions, the third regions DR3 arevertical portions which are the side surfaces of the display device 10,and the fourth regions DR4 are lower curved portions, for example. Itis, however, to be understood that the inventive concepts are notlimited thereto.

In an exemplary embodiment, the cover window 100, the touch sensingdevice 200, the display panel 300, the panel support member 390 and themiddle frame 600 of the display device 10_1 may be flat in the firstregion DR1, may be curved in the second regions DR2, may be flat in thethird regions DR3, and may be curved in the fourth regions DR4. Forexample, each of the cover window 100, the touch sensing device 200, thedisplay panel 300, the panel support member 390, and the middle frame600 may be flat in the first region DR1 in the first direction (x-axisdirection), may be flat in the third regions DR3 in the third direction(z-axis direction), may be curved in the second regions DR2 to connectthe first region DR1 and the second regions DR2, and may be curved andextended from the third regions DR3 to the lower surface in the fourthregions DR4. That is to say, each of the cover window 100, the touchsensing device 200, the display panel 300, the panel support member 390,and the middle frame 600 may be formed as a flat portion in the firstregion DR1 as the upper surface, may be formed as upper curved portionsin the second regions DR2, may be formed as vertical portions in thethird regions DR3 as the side surfaces, and may be formed as lowercurved portions in the fourth regions DR4. It is, however, to beunderstood that the inventive concepts are not limited thereto. Each ofthe cover window 100, the touch sensing device 200, the display panel300, the panel support member 390, and the middle frame 600 may have acurved surface and a flat surface extended from the curved surface inthe fourth regions DR4.

Each of the first pressure sensor 511 and the second pressure sensor 512may be disposed from the first region DR1 to the fourth regions DR4 viathe second regions DR2 and the third regions DR3 of the display device10. It is, however, to be understood that the inventive concepts are notlimited thereto. Each of the first pressure sensor 511 and the secondpressure sensor 512 may be disposed from the second regions DR2 to thefourth regions DR4 via the third regions DR3, may be disposed from thethird regions DR3 to the fourth regions DR4, may be disposed from thefirst region DR1 to the second regions DR2, and may be disposed in onlyone of the second regions DR2, the third regions DR3 and the fourthregions DR4. In addition, the first pressure sensor 511 and the secondpressure sensor 512 may be disposed in different regions. For example,the first pressure sensor 511 may be disposed from the second regionsDR2 to the fourth regions DR4 via the third regions DR3, while thesecond pressure sensor 512 may be disposed from the third regions DR3 tothe fourth regions DR4.

In an exemplary embodiment, first bumps BP1 and second bumps BP2 may bedisposed on each of the first pressure sensor 511 and the secondpressure sensor 512. For example, on each of the first pressure sensor511 and the second pressure sensor 512, the first bumps BP1 may bedisposed in the side surface and the upper surface while the secondbumps BP2 may be disposed in the side surface and the lower surface,which divided the area including the first region DR1, the secondregions DR2, the third regions DR3 and the fourth regions DR4 into twosub-areas. Accordingly, the first bumps BP1 may not overlap with thesecond bumps BP2. It is, however, to be understood that the inventiveconcepts are not limited thereto. On each of the first pressure sensor511 and the second pressure sensor 512, the area including the firstregion DR1, the second regions DR2, the third regions DR3 and the fourthregions DR4 may be divided into three sub-areas, so that three or morebumps may be disposed.

Each of the first bumps BP1 and the second bumps BP2 may be disposed onthe lower surface of the panel support member 390 via a fourth adhesivemember 940 and may be attached to the upper surfaces of the firstpressure sensor 511 and the second pressure sensor 512 via a sixthadhesive member 960. Further, each of the first pressure sensor 511 andthe second pressure sensor 512 may be attached to the upper surface, theside surface and the lower surface of the middle frame 600 via a fifthadhesive member 950. The fourth adhesive member 940, the fifth adhesivemember 950 and the sixth adhesive member 960 may be pressure sensitiveadhesives (PSA). Either the fourth adhesive member 940 or the fifthadhesive member 950 may be eliminated.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, thewaterproof member 400 may be disposed on the outer side of each of thefirst pressure sensor 511 and the second pressure sensor 512. In otherwords, the waterproof member 400 may be disposed on one side of each ofthe first pressure sensor 511 and the second pressure sensor 512. Forexample, the waterproof member 400 may be disposed between one sidesurface of each of the first pressure sensor 511 and the second pressuresensor 512 and the side surface of the bottom cover 900. It is, however,to be understood that the inventive concepts are not limited thereto.The position of the waterproof member 400 may vary depending on theshapes of the middle frame 600 and the bottom cover 900. In addition,one surface of the waterproof member 400 may be attached to the panelsupport member 390, and the other surface of the waterproof member 400may be attached to the middle frame 600.

The side surface of each of the cover window 100, the touch sensingdevice 200, the display panel 300, and the panel support member 390 maybe disposed on the side surface of the bottom cover 900. For example,the side surfaces of each of the cover window 100, the touch sensingdevice 200, the display panel 300, and the panel support member 390 maybe attached and fixed to the side surface of the bottom cover 900 via anadhesive material or a connection member. With this configuration,images can be displayed in each of the first region DR1, the secondregions DR2, the third regions DR3, and the fourth regions DR4 of thedisplay device 10, and the pressure sensors can be utilized at the edgesof the first region DR1, in the second regions DR2, in the third regionsDR3, and in the fourth regions DR4. The waterproof member 400 isdisposed on the outer side of each of the first pressure sensor 511 andthe second pressure sensor 512 and attaches the panel support member 390to the middle frame 600. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent moistureand dust from permeating between the display panel 300 and the middleframe 600 by the waterproof member 400.

The example shown in FIG. 20 is substantially identical to the exampleshown in FIG. 19 except that a third pressure sensor and a fourthpressure sensor are disposed. Therefore, the redundant description willbe omitted.

FIG. 21 is a bottom view showing pressure sensors disposed in thedisplay panel according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. The example shown in FIG. 21 is different from the exampleshown in FIG. 6 in that the display panel includes a fourth region and apressure sensor is extended to the fourth region. Descriptions will bemade focusing on differences, and the redundant description will beomitted.

Referring to FIG. 21, according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention, a display panel 300 may include a first region DR1, asecond region DR2, a third region DR3, and a fourth region DR4. Forexample, the second region DR2 may be extended toward one of the firstand second shorter sides SS1 and SS2 and the first and second longersides LS1 and LS2 from the first region DR1. The third region DR3 may beextended toward one of the first and second shorter sides SS1 and SS2and the first and second longer sides LS1 and LS2 from the second regionDR2. The fourth region DR4 may be extended toward one of the first andsecond shorter sides SS1 and SS2 and the first and second longer sidesLS1 and LS2 from the second region DR2. It is, however, to be understoodthat the inventive concepts are not limited thereto. The second regionDR2, the third region DR3, and the fourth region DR4 may be disposedsuch that they surround the first region DR1. Although the length of thelonger side each of the second region DR2, the third region DR3, and thefourth region DR4 is shown as being less than the length of the side ofthe first region DR1, this is merely illustrative. The length of thelonger side of each of the second region DR2, the third region DR3, andthe fourth region extended from each side of the first region DR1 may beequal to the length of the side of the first region DR1.

The fourth region of the display panel 300 may be bent toward the lowersurface of the display device from the third regions DR3 during theprocess of forming the display device 10_1. Accordingly, the displaydevice 10_1 may display images even on the four edges of the lowersurface as well as the upper surface and the four side surfaces.

Each of the first pressure sensor 511, the second pressure sensor 512,the third pressure sensor 513, and the fourth pressure sensor 514 may bedisposed from the edge of the first region DR1 to the fourth region DR4via the second region DR2 and the third region DR3. Each of the firstpressure sensor 511, the second pressure sensor 512, the third pressuresensor 513, and the fourth pressure sensor 514 may be bent together withthe display panel 300 during the process of forming the display device10_1 and can be assembled. Accordingly, the first pressure sensor 511,the second pressure sensor 512, the third pressure sensor 513, and thefourth pressure sensor 514 can sense a pressure at the four edges of theupper surface, the four side surfaces, and the four edges of the lowersurface of the display device 10_1.

FIG. 22 is a plan view showing a first pressure sensor, first bumps, andsecond bumps according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 23 is a plan view showing a second pressure sensor,first bumps, and second bumps according to another exemplary embodimentof the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 22, the first pressure sensor 511 may have arectangular shape having shorter sides in a first direction (x-axisdirection) and longer sides in a second direction (y-axis direction)when viewed from the top. It is, however, to be understood that theinventive concepts are not limited thereto. The shape of the firstpressure sensor 511 may vary depending on where it is disposed.

The first pressure sensor 511 according to the exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention includes pressure sensitive cells CE1 a to CE8 aand CE1 b to CE8 b arranged in a plurality of rows. For example, theremay be the pressure sensitive cells CE1 a to CE8 a in the first rowextended in the second direction (y-axis direction) adjacent to the padarea PAD, and pressure sensitive cells CE1 b to CE8 b in the second rowspaced apart in the first direction (x-axis direction) from the pressuresensitive cells CE1 a to CE8 a in the first row. It is, however, to beunderstood that the inventive concepts are not limited thereto. Thepressure sensitive cells may be arranged in three or more rows or may bearranged irregularly.

Although the eighth pressure sensitive cells CE1 a to CE8 a in the firstrow and the eighth pressure sensitive cells CE1 b to CE8 b in the secondrow are shown, the numbers of the pressure sensitive cells are notlimited thereto. The numbers of the pressure sensitive cells CE1 a toCE8 a in the first row and the pressure sensitive cells CE1 b to CE8 bin the second row may vary.

Each of the pressure sensitive cells CE1 a to CE8 a in the first row andthe pressure sensitive cells CE1 b to CE8 b in the second row mayindividually sense the pressure at the respective positions and may bedisposed separately or continuously.

The first bumps BP1 may be disposed on the pressure sensitive cells CE1a to CE8 a in the first row such that they overlap with the pressuresensitive cells CE1 a to CE8 a in the first row, respectively. The areaincluding the first region DR1, the second region DR2, the third regionDR3, and the fourth region DR4 may be divided into two sub-areas, andthe first bumps BP1 may be located on the side surface and the uppersurface. The second bumps BP2 may be disposed on the pressure sensitivecells CE1 b to CE8 b in the second row such that they overlap with thepressure sensitive cells CE1 b to CE8 b in the second row, respectively.The area including the first region DR1, the second region DR2, thethird region DR3 and the fourth region DR4 may be divided into twosub-areas, and the second bumps BP2 may be located on the side surfaceand the upper surface.

In addition, in order not to cover the cable holes CAH of the middleframe 600, a first notch NTH1 and a second notch NTH2 may be formed atthe portions of the first pressure sensor 511 that are in line with thecable holes CAH of the middle frame 600. It is, however, to beunderstood that the inventive concepts are not limited thereto. Themiddle frame 600 may not include the notches NTH1 and NTH2.

Each of the pressure sensitive cells CE1 a to CE8 a in the first row andthe pressure sensitive cells CE1 b to CE8 b in the second row may beimplemented as independent pressure sensors. For example, each of thepressure sensor in which the pressure sensitive cells CE1 a to CE8 a inthe first row are arranged and the pressure sensor in which the pressuresensitive cells CE1 b to CE8 b in the second row are arranged may beindependently formed, so that they may be disposed at the position wherethe first pressure sensor 511 is to be disposed.

The second pressure sensor 512, the first bumps BP1 and the second bumpsBP2 shown in FIG. 23 are substantially identical to the first pressuresensor 511, the first bumps BP1 and the second bumps BP2 shown in FIG.22 except that the second pressure sensor 512 does not include the firstnotch NTH1 and the NTH2. Accordingly, the second pressure sensor 512 andthe first bumps BP1 and the second bumps BP2 shown in FIG. 23 will notbe described in detail.

FIG. 24 is a plan view showing a third pressure sensor, first bumps BP1,and second bumps BP2 according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 25 is a plan view showing a fourth pressure sensor,first bumps BP1, and second bumps BP2 according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 24, the third pressure sensor 513 may have arectangular shape having shorter sides in the second direction (y-axisdirection) and longer sides in the first direction (x-axis direction)when viewed from the top. It is, however, to be understood that theinventive concepts are not limited thereto. The shape of the thirdpressure sensor 513 may vary depending on where it is disposed. Thethird pressure sensor 513 may be shorter than the first pressure sensor511. It is, however, to be understood that the present disclosure is notlimited thereto. The length of the third pressure sensor 513 may beequal to the length of the first pressure sensor 511. In someimplementations, the length of the third pressure sensor 513 may beequal to or greater than the length of the first pressure sensor 511.

The third pressure sensor 513 according to the exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention includes pressure sensitive cells CE1 a to CE6 aand CE1 b to CE68 b arranged in a plurality of rows. For example, theremay be the pressure sensitive cells CE1 a to CE6 a in the first rowextended in the first direction (x-axis direction) adjacent to the padarea PAD, and pressure sensitive cells CE1 b to CE6 b in the second rowspaced apart in the second direction (y-axis direction) from thepressure sensitive cells CE1 a to CE6 a in the first row. It is,however, to be understood that the inventive concepts are not limitedthereto. The pressure sensitive cells may be arranged in three or morerows or may be arranged irregularly.

Although the sixth pressure sensitive cells CE1 a to CE6 a in the firstrow and the sixth pressure sensitive cells CE1 b to CE6 b in the secondrow are shown, the numbers of the pressure sensitive cells are notlimited thereto. The numbers of the pressure sensitive cells CE1 a toCE6 a in the first row and the pressure sensitive cells CE1 b to CE6 bin the second row may vary.

Each of the pressure sensitive cells CE1 a to CE6 a in the first row andthe pressure sensitive cells CE1 b to CE6 b in the second row mayindividually sense the pressure at the respective positions and may bedisposed separately or continuously.

The first bumps BP1 may be disposed on the pressure sensitive cells CE1a to CE6 a in the first row such that they overlap with the pressuresensitive cells CE1 a to CE6 a in the first row, respectively. The areaincluding the first region DR1, the second region DR2, the third regionDR3, and the fourth region DR4 may be divided into two sub-areas, andthe first bumps BP1 may be located on the side surface and the uppersurface. The second bumps BP2 may be disposed on the pressure sensitivecells CE1 b to CE6 b in the second row such that they overlap with thepressure sensitive cells CE1 b to CE6 b in the second row, respectively.The area including the first region DR1, the second region DR2, thethird region DR3, and the fourth region DR4 may be divided into twosub-areas, and the second bumps BP2 may be located on the side surfaceand the upper surface.

Each of the pressure sensitive cells CE1 a to CE6 a in the first row andthe pressure sensitive cells CE1 b to CE6 b in the second row may beimplemented as independent pressure sensors. For example, each of thepressure sensor in which the pressure sensitive cells CE1 a to CE6 a inthe first row are arranged and the pressure sensor in which the pressuresensitive cells CE1 b to CE6 b in the second row are arranged may beindependently formed, so that they may be disposed at the position wherethe third pressure sensor 513 is to be disposed.

Since the fourth pressure sensor 514, the first bumps BP1 and the secondbumps BP2 shown in FIG. 25 are substantially identical to the thirdpressure sensor 513, the first bumps BP1 and the second bumps BP2,respectively; and, therefore, the redundant description will be omitted.

FIG. 26 is a bottom view of the pressure sensitive cells on the lowersurface of the display device according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 26, in an exemplary embodiment, the pressure sensitivecells CE1 b to CE8 b and CE1 b to CE6 b in the second row may bedisposed in the fourth region DR4 and located on the lower surface ofthe display device 10_1. For example, the pressure sensitive cells CE1 bto CE8 b and CE1 b to CE6 b in the second row may be disposed at thecorners between the first and second shorter sides SS1 and SS2 and thefirst and second longer sides LS1 and LS2 of the lower surface of thedisplay device 10_1. Specifically, the pressure sensitive cells CE1 b toCE8 b in the second row of the first pressure sensor 511 may be disposedat the edge on the first longer side LS1 of the lower surface of thedisplay device 10_1. The second pressure sensitive cells CE1 b to CE8 bin the second row of the second pressure sensor 512 may be disposed atthe edge on the second longer side LS2. The pressure sensitive cells CE1b to CE6 b in the second row of the third pressure sensor 513 may bedisposed at the edge on the first shorter side SS1. The pressuresensitive cells CE1 b to CE6 b in the second row of the fourth pressuresensor 514 may be disposed at the edge of the second shorter side SS1.

The first to fourth pressure sensors 511, 512, 513, and 514 are spacedapart from one another at the corners of the lower surface of thedisplay device 10_1 in FIG. 26. It is, however, to be understood thatthe present disclosure is not limited thereto. In other implementations,the first to fourth pressure sensors 511, 512, 513 and 514 may bearranged such that they surround the edges of the lower surface of thedisplay device 10_1. In this case, the pressure sensitive cells CE1 b toCE8 b and CE1 b to CE6 b in the second row of the first to fourthpressure sensors 511, 512, 513 and 514 may be disposed such that theysurround the edges of the lower surface of the display device 10_1.

FIG. 27 is a bottom view showing pressure sensors disposed in thedisplay panel according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 28 is a bottom view showing pressure sensors disposed inthe display panel according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention. FIG. 29 is a bottom view showing pressure sensorsdisposed in the display panel according to another exemplary embodimentof the present invention. The examples shown in FIGS. 27 and 29 aresubstantially identical to the example shown in FIG. 21 except that theshape and positions of pressure sensors are different; and, therefore,the redundant description will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 27, each of the first to fourth pressure sensors 511,512, 513, and 514 according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention may include independent a first sensor part 511 a; 512 a; 513a; 514 a and a second sensor part 511 b; 512 b; 513 b; 514 b. Referringto FIGS. 22 to 25, each of the first to fourth pressure sensors 511,512, 513, and 514 may include a first sensor part 511 a; 512 a; 513 a;514 a including pressure sensitive cells CE1 a to CE8 a and CE1 a to CE6a in the first row, and a second sensor part 511 b; 512 b; 513 b; 514 bincluding the pressure sensitive cells CE1 b to CE8 b and CE1 a to CE6 ain the second row and separated from the first sensor part 511 a; 512 a;513 a; 514 a.

Specifically, the first pressure sensor 511 may include a first sensorpart 511 a and a second sensor part 511 b located on the first longerside LS1. The first sensor part 511 a is disposed on the side surfaceand the upper surface while the second sensor part 511 b is disposed onthe side surface and the lower surface, which divides the area includingthe first region DR1, the second region DR2, the third region DR3, andthe fourth region DR4 into two sub-areas

The second pressure sensor 512 may include a first sensor part 512 a anda second sensor part 512 b located on the second longer side LS2. Thefirst sensor part 512 a is disposed on the side surface and the uppersurface while the second sensor part 512 b is disposed on the sidesurface and the lower surface, which divides the area including thefirst region DR1, the second region DR2, the third region DR3, and thefourth region DR4 into two sub-areas.

The third pressure sensor 513 may include a first sensor part 513 a anda second sensor part 513 b located on the first shorter side SS1. Thefirst sensor part 513 a is disposed on the side surface and the uppersurface while the second sensor part 513 b is disposed on the sidesurface and the lower surface, which divides the area including thefirst region DR1, the second region DR2, the third region DR3, and thefourth region DR4 into two sub-areas.

The fourth pressure sensor 514 may include a first sensor part 514 a anda second sensor part 514 b located on the second shorter side SS2. Thefirst sensor part 514 a is disposed on the side surface and the uppersurface while the second sensor part 514 b is disposed on the sidesurface and the lower surface, which divides the area including thefirst region DR1, the second region DR2, the third region DR3, and thefourth region DR4 into two sub-areas.

Referring to FIG. 28, pressure sensors 511_1 and 512_1 according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a firstpressure sensor 511_1 and a second pressure sensor 512_1. The firstpressure sensor 511_1 may include a first sensor part 511 a, a secondsensor part 511 b, and a connection part 511 c. The second pressuresensor 512_1 may include a first sensor part 512 a, a second sensor part512 b, and a connection part 512 c. The example shown in FIG. 28 isdifferent from the example shown in FIG. 27 in that a first sensor part511 a; 512 a is connected to a second sensor part 511 b; 512 b by aconnection part 511 c; 512 c as a single piece, and that each of thefirst sensor part 511 a; 512 a and the second sensor part 511 b; 512 bis disposed from the first region DR1 to the fourth region DR4 via thesecond region DR2 and the third region DR3 such that they are extendedfrom the edge of the upper surface to the edge of the lower surface ofthe display device 10_1.

Referring to FIG. 29, pressure sensors 511_2 and 512 according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a firstpressure sensor 511_2 and a second pressure sensor 512. The firstpressure sensor 511_2 may include a first sensor part 511 a, a secondsensor part 511 b, a third sensor part 511 d, a first connection part511 c, and a second connection part 511 e. Each of the first sensor part511 a, the second sensor part 511 b, the third sensor part 511 d and thesecond pressure sensor 512 may be disposed from the first region DR1 tothe fourth region DR4 via the second region DR2 and the third region DR3and may be extended from the edge of the upper surface to the edge ofthe lower surface of the display device 10_1. It is to be noted that thearrangement of the first pressure sensor 511_2 and the second pressuresensor 512 is not limited thereto. For example, the pressure sensorsdisposed on three sides of the first and second shorter sides SS1 andSS2 and the first and second longer sides LS1 and LS2 may be connectedto one another, and the pressure sensor disposed on the other side ofthe four sides may be separately disposed.

FIGS. 30 and 31 are perspective views schematically showing thepositions of the pressure sensitive cells and icon navigations for thepressure sensitive cells according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIG. 30, in an exemplary embodiment, a display device 10_1may include first to fifth pressure sensitive cells CE1, CE2, CE3, CE4,and CE5. For example, the display device 10_1 may include a firstpressure sensitive cell CE1 disposed in the second region DR2, a secondpressure sensitive cell CE2 disposed in the third region DR3, a thirdpressure sensitive cell CE3 disposed from the third region DR3 to thefourth region DR4, a fourth pressure sensitive cell CE4 disposed in thefourth region DR4, and a fifth pressure sensitive cell CE5 disposed fromthe first region DR1 to the third region DR3 via the second region DR2.Icons corresponding to the first to fifth pressure sensitive cells CE1,CE2, CE3, CE4, and CE5, respectively, may be indicated on the displaydevice 10_1.

Since the first to fourth pressure sensitive cells CE1, CE2, CE3, andCE4 are not disposed on the upper surface of the display device 10_1, itis necessary to guide the positions of the first to fourth pressuresensitive cells CE1, CE2, CE3, and CE4 on the front surface of thedisplay device 10_1 for a user. Therefore, icon navigations IN1, IN2,IN3, and IN4 may be indicated on the edge of the upper surface of thedisplay device 10_1 in line with the first to fourth pressure sensitivecells CE1, CE2, CE3, and CE4, respectively.

For example, a first icon navigation IN1 may be disposed at the edge ofthe first region DR1 in line with the first pressure sensitive cell CE1.A second icon navigation IN2 may be disposed at the edge of the firstregion DR1 in line with the second pressure sensitive cell CE2. A thirdicon navigation IN3 may be disposed at the edge of the first region DR1in line with the third pressure sensitive cell CE3. A fourth iconnavigation IN4 may be disposed at the edge of the first region DR1 inline with the fourth pressure sensitive cell CE4. Thus, the user caneasily find the position of each of the first to fourth pressuresensitive cells CE1, CE2, CE3, and CE4 on the side surface and the lowersurface or the position of each of the icons corresponding to the firstto fourth pressure sensitive cells CE1, CE2, CE3, and CE4, respectively,by virtue of the first to fourth icon navigations IN1, IN2, IN3, andIN4.

Referring to FIG. 31, the positions of the icon navigation INa, INb,Inc, and INd according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention will be described. The icon navigations INa, INb, INc, and INdmay be indicated at the positions that a user can see when she/hewatches the display device 10_1 from the front. That is to say, the iconnavigations INa, INb, Inc, and INd may be indicated at the edge of thefirst region DR1 of the display device 10_1 and in the area adjacent tothe edge of the first region DR1. For example, the display device 10_1may include an icon navigation INa disposed at the edge of the firstregion DR1, an icon navigation INb disposed at the end of the secondregion DR2 adjacent to the first region DR1, an icon navigation INcdisposed from the first region DR1 to the second region DR2, and an iconnavigation INd disposed at the corner of the first region DR1. It is,however, to be understood that this is merely illustrative.

The icon navigation INa disposed at the edge of the first region DR1 maybe located in line with a first sensing area CA1 and may indicate theposition of the pressure sensitive cell in the first sensing area CA1 orthe position of the indicated icon corresponding to the pressuresensitive cell in the first sensing area CA1. The icon navigation INbdisposed at the end of the second region DR2 adjacent to the firstregion DR1 may be located in line with a second sensing area CA2 and mayindicate the position of the pressure sensitive cell in the secondsensing area CA2 or the position of the indicated icon corresponding tothe pressure sensitive cell. The icon navigation INd disposed at thecorner of the first region DR1 may be located in line with a thirdsensing area CA3 and may indicate the position of the pressure sensitivecell in the third sensing area CA3 or the position of the indicated iconcorresponding to the pressure sensitive cell. The icon navigations INa,INb, Inc, and INd may have the same width as the sensing areas CA1, CA2,CA3 and CA4, respectively. It is, however, to be understood that is theinventive concepts are not limited thereto. The widths of the iconnavigations INa, INb, Inc, and INd may be smaller or larger than thewidths of the sensing areas CA1, CA2, CA3, and CA4, respectively.Although the icon navigations INa, INb, Inc, and INd are shown as a barshape in FIG. 31, this is merely illustrative. The icon navigations INa,INb, Inc, and INd may have any of a variety of shapes as long as a usercan recognize the positions of the pressure sensitive cells. To allow auser to get immersed into images displayed on the display device 10_1,the icon navigations INa, INb, Inc, and INd may be indicated only whenthe user touches the edge of the first region DR1 of the display device10_1 and may disappear when the user touches it again.

According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, images canbe displayed even on the side surfaces or the lower surface so that thedisplay area of the display device can be expanded. In addition,pressure sensors are disposed on the side surfaces or the lower surfaceof the display device, so that the sensors can be used on behalf ofphysical buttons such as volume control buttons, a power button, a callbutton, a camera button, an Internet button, and a squeezing button.

Although certain exemplary embodiments have been described herein, otherembodiments and modifications will be apparent from this description.Accordingly, the inventive concepts are not limited to such embodiments,but rather to the broader scope of the appended claims and variousobvious modifications and equivalent arrangements as would be apparentto a person of ordinary skill in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display device comprising: a display panel comprising an upper surface, a first curved portion extended from a first edge of the upper surface, and a first side surface extended from the first curved portion; and a first pressure sensor disposed on the display panel, wherein: the first pressure sensor is disposed on at least one of the first curved portion, the first edge of the upper surface, and the first side surface; and the upper surface and the first curved portion are used as a display area.
 2. The display device of claim 1, wherein the first pressure sensor is disposed on the first curved portion and the first edge of the upper surface.
 3. The display device of claim 1, wherein the first pressure sensor is disposed on the first curved portion and the first side surface.
 4. The display device of claim 3, wherein the display panel further comprises a second curved portion extended from the first side surface to a lower surface of the display panel.
 5. The display device of claim 4, wherein the first pressure sensor is disposed on the second curved portion.
 6. The display device of claim 1, wherein: the first pressure sensor comprises a pressure sensitive cell; and the pressure sensitive cell comprises a driving electrode and a sensing electrode disposed on a surface of a first substrate, and a pressure sensing layer disposed on a surface of a second substrate that faces the surface of the first substrate.
 7. The display device of claim 1, further comprising a waterproof member disposed on an outer side of the first pressure sensor.
 8. The display device of claim 7, further comprising a middle frame disposed under the first pressure sensor, wherein the waterproof member is disposed between the display panel and the middle frame.
 9. The display device of claim 1, further comprising a bump disposed between the first pressure sensor and the display panel.
 10. The display device of claim 1, wherein: the display panel further comprises: a second edge of the upper surface that is opposed to the first edge of the upper surface; a second curved portion extended from the second edge of the upper surface; and a second side surface extended from the second curved portion; a second pressure sensor is disposed on the display panel; and the second pressure sensor is disposed on at least one of the second curved portion, the second edge of the upper surface, and the second side surface.
 11. The display device of claim 10, wherein the second pressure sensor is disposed on the second curved portion and the second edge of the upper surface.
 12. The display device of claim 10, wherein the second pressure sensor is disposed on the second curved portion and the second side surface.
 13. The display device of claim 12, wherein: the display panel further comprises a third curved portion extended from the second side surface to a lower surface of the display panel; and the second pressure sensor is disposed on the third curved portion.
 14. The display device of claim 10, wherein: the display panel further comprises: a third edge of the upper surface connecting the first edge with the second edge; a third curved portion extended from the third edge of the upper surface; and a third side surface extended from the third curved portion; a third pressure sensor is disposed on the display panel; and the third pressure sensor is disposed on at least one of the third curved portion, the third edge of the upper surface, and the third side surface.
 15. The display device of claim 14, wherein the third pressure sensor is disposed on the third curved portion and the third edge of the upper surface.
 16. The display device of claim 14, wherein the third pressure sensor is disposed on the third curved portion and the third side surface.
 17. The display device of claim 16, wherein: the display panel further comprises a fourth curved portion extended from the third side surface; and the third pressure sensor is disposed on the fourth curved portion.
 18. The display device of claim 17, wherein: the display panel further comprises a connection part connecting the first pressure sensor with the third pressure sensor; and a width of the connection part is less than a width of each of the first and third pressure sensors.
 19. The display device of claim 1, wherein the display panel is configured to display images on the upper surface, on the first curved portion, and on the first side surface of the display panel.
 20. The display device of claim 19, wherein: the display panel further comprises a second curved portion extended from the first side surface to a lower surface of the display panel; and the display panel is configured to display images on the second curved portion.
 21. The display device of claim 20, wherein an icon is indicated on the first side surface of the display panel.
 22. The display device of claim 21, wherein the first pressure sensor comprises a pressure sensitive cell, and the icon is indicated at a position corresponding to the pressure sensitive cell.
 23. The display device of claim 22, wherein: an icon navigation is indicated at the first edge of the upper surface of the display panel; and the icon and the icon navigation are located on a same line.
 24. A display device comprising: a display panel comprising: an upper surface; a first curved portion extended from a first edge of the upper surface; and a first side surface extended from the first curved portion; and a first pressure sensor disposed on the display panel, wherein: the first pressure sensor is disposed on the first side surface; and the upper surface and the first curved portion are used as a display area.
 25. The display device of claim 24, wherein the first pressure sensor is disposed on the first upper curved portion. 